US Justice Department Intervenes in Lawsuit to Stop California's Redistricting Plan
Federal authorities have entered the fray in a legal challenge initiated by California Republicans, aiming to prevent the California's recently passed electoral boundaries.
This legal action, submitted to federal court, targets the map supported by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in response to a Republican-led gerrymander in Texas.
"California's electoral map represents a brazen power grab that violates civil rights and undermines the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have expressed confidence that the redistricting plan will withstand legal scrutiny.
"The plaintiffs lost at the ballot box and they are likely to also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Constitutional Challenge
The lawsuit claims that California's map improperly used racial considerations to significantly advantage Hispanic voters in violation of the federal constitution.
"It is unconstitutional to use race as a substitute to further partisan goals, but that is precisely what the state legislature did with the redistricting measure," argued a senior official from the Civil Rights Division.
Political Context
The legal battle represents the major response by the Democratic party in the continuing redistricting war that started with Texas and has spread across multiple states.
Unlike other states, where GOP-controlled legislatures have implemented partisan maps, California's plan needed public consent, which it obtained with nearly 65% of the vote.
Wider Consequences
The Democratic party need to gain just a handful of Republican-held House seats to gain majority of the chamber in next year's midterm election.
The party that holds the majority will influence the final years of the current administration, deciding if a GOP-controlled legislature will persist in implementing its political program or encounter opposition, investigations and possible further challenges.
- Legal representation for the challengers is being handled by a prominent law firm
- The managing partner currently holds the position of assistant attorney general
- However, this individual has been recused from this particular case
