The U.S. Department of Justice has taken legal action over California’s newly drawn congressional districts.
At issue is Proposition 50, the measure California voters approved this month that shifts the authority to draw congressional maps from an independent commission back to the Legislature. The Justice Department claims the new maps, which would provide additional seats to Democrats, are unconstitutional due to race-based manipulation.
According to a lawsuit filed Thursday in the Central District of California, state lawmakers relied heavily on Latino demographic data when crafting the new districts — so heavily that race became the driving factor and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.
“California’s redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Gov. Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.”
Federal officials rejected Newsom’s argument that he spearheaded Prop. 50 in response to a partisan redistricting effort by Texas Republicans.
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The Justice Department is asking the court to prevent California from using the new boundaries in the 2026 election cycle.
The department’s filing joins a suit (Tangipa et al. v. Newsom) from Republican challengers who say the Legislature engineered districts to deliver partisan advantages. The federal government’s entry raises the stakes significantly and could influence how all states approach post-census redistricting.
“These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court,” Newsom’s press office said on X. (opens in new tab)
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon has recused herself from the case, leaving Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete to represent the DOJ.