The US Justice Department have entered the fray in a lawsuit brought forward by California Republicans, aiming to prevent the California's newly approved electoral boundaries.
This court case, filed in federal court, targets the redistricting plan supported by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in reaction against a Republican-led gerrymander in Texas.
"California's electoral map represents a blatant attempt to seize control that tramples on civil rights and undermines the electoral system," stated the nation's top law enforcement official.
Democrats have expressed confidence that the new maps will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs lost at the ballot box and they are likely to face defeat in the judicial system," stated a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The lawsuit claims that California's map wrongfully utilized racial considerations to significantly advantage Hispanic voters in contravention of the US Constitution.
"It is unconstitutional to use race as a substitute to advance political interests, but that is exactly what the California General Assembly did with the redistricting measure," stated a senior official from the DOJ's civil rights unit.
Broader Implications
The legal battle represents the major counterpunch by Democrats in the continuing redistricting war that began in Texas and has extended to multiple states.
Unlike other states, where GOP-controlled legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan required public consent, which it received with nearly 65% of the vote.
National Implications
The Democratic party need to flip just a small number of GOP-controlled House seats to gain majority of the chamber in next year's congressional elections.
The party that holds the majority will shape the final years of the current administration, determining whether a GOP-controlled legislature will continue to deliver its political program or encounter opposition, investigations and potential further challenges.
- Legal representation for the plaintiffs is being handled by a well-known legal group
- The managing partner currently holds the position of assistant attorney general
- Nevertheless, this attorney has been removed from the current litigation
