The US Justice Department have officially joined a legal challenge brought forward by California Republicans, seeking to prevent the state's newly approved congressional redistricting map.
This court case, filed in federal court, targets the map championed by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in response to a Republican-led gerrymander in Texas.
"The state's electoral map constitutes a blatant attempt to seize control that violates civil rights and mocks the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
Democrats have voiced assurance that the new maps will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs were defeated in the election and they are likely to face defeat in the judicial system," commented a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The lawsuit claims that California's map improperly used 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 state legislature did with Proposition 50," argued a high-ranking representative from the DOJ's civil rights unit.
Broader Implications
This courtroom confrontation constitutes the major response by Democrats in the ongoing 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 needed public consent, which it obtained with nearly 65% of the vote.
National Implications
Democrats need to gain just a handful of Republican-held House seats to gain majority of the House of Representatives in next year's congressional elections.
The political group controlling the controlling share will shape the remaining period of the sitting president's term, determining whether a GOP-controlled legislature will persist in implementing its political program or face resistance, investigations and possible further challenges.
- Legal counsel for the plaintiffs is being handled by a well-known legal group
- The managing partner currently serves as assistant attorney general
- However, this attorney has been removed from this particular case
