The US Justice Department have officially joined a lawsuit initiated by California Republicans, aiming to prevent the state's newly approved congressional redistricting map.
This court case, submitted to federal court, targets the redistricting plan supported by the state's Democratic governor, which was created in reaction against a GOP redistricting effort in Texas.
"California's redistricting scheme constitutes a brazen power grab that violates civil rights and undermines the democratic process," declared the US attorney general.
Democrats have voiced assurance that the new maps will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs lost at the ballot box and they are likely to also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The legal challenge asserts that California's map improperly used racial considerations to significantly advantage Hispanic voters in contravention of the federal constitution.
"Race cannot be used as a substitute to further partisan goals, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with the redistricting measure," stated a senior official from the Civil Rights Division.
Broader Implications
The legal battle represents the major response by Democrats in the continuing political battle that began in Texas and has spread across various parts of the country.
In contrast to elsewhere, where GOP-controlled legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan required voter approval, which it obtained with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
Wider Consequences
The Democratic party need to flip just a handful of GOP-controlled House seats to gain majority of the chamber in next year's congressional elections.
The party that holds the controlling share will influence the remaining period of the current administration, determining whether a GOP-controlled legislature will continue to deliver its political program or encounter opposition, investigations and possible additional obstacles.
- Legal counsel for the challengers is being handled by a prominent law firm
- The firm's founder currently holds the position of senior DOJ official
- Nevertheless, this attorney has been removed from the current litigation
