The US Justice Department has entered the fray in a legal challenge brought forward by California Republicans, seeking to prevent the California's newly approved electoral boundaries.
This court case, submitted to a US district court, challenges the map championed by the state's Democratic governor, which was created in response to a GOP redistricting effort in Texas.
"California's redistricting scheme represents a blatant attempt to seize control that violates voting rights and mocks the electoral system," stated the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have expressed confidence that the new maps will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Constitutional Challenge
The lawsuit claims that California's map improperly used racial considerations to heavily favor Latino communities in violation of the US Constitution.
"It is unconstitutional to use race as a proxy to further partisan goals, but that is exactly what the state legislature did with Proposition 50," argued a high-ranking representative from the DOJ's civil rights unit.
Political Context
The legal battle represents the major counterpunch by Democrats in the continuing redistricting war that started with Texas and has spread across various parts of the country.
Unlike other states, where GOP-controlled legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan required voter approval, which it received with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
Wider Consequences
Democrats need to gain just a small number of Republican-held House seats to gain majority of the chamber in next year's midterm election.
The political group controlling the controlling share will influence the remaining period of the sitting president's term, determining whether a GOP-controlled legislature will continue to deliver its agenda or face resistance, investigations and potential additional obstacles.
- Legal counsel for the plaintiffs is being handled by a prominent law firm
- The firm's founder currently holds the position of assistant attorney general
- Nevertheless, this attorney has been recused from the current litigation
