LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking an injunction. New Congressional District Boundaries It was approved by California voters last week and could be part of a legal battle that will determine which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
The complaint filed in California federal court targets a new congressional map pushed by the Democratic governor. gavin newsome according to A similar Republican-led effort is underway in Texas. with the support of the president donald trump. This sets the stage for a high-stakes legal and political battle between the Republican administration and the Democratic governor, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
“California’s redistricting plan is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and makes a mockery of our democratic process,” Attorney General said. pam bondi said in an emailed statement. “Governor Newsom’s attempts to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not work.”
“These losers lost at the polls and will soon lose in the courts,” Newsom spokesman Brandon Richards said in a statement.
The legal action against heavily Democratic California is the first time the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit over a series of unusual House map changes across the country in mid-2010 designed to maximize partisan gains ahead of next year’s elections.
Three Republican-led states (Texas, Missouri and North Carolina) are not facing federal lawsuits after reviewing their district lines after President Trump demanded new maps to increase the number of Republicans in the House. civil rights defender discussed They argue that the new border between Texas and Missouri will illegally disadvantage minority communities at the polls.
California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment that would change the boundaries of Congress to give Democrats a hand. Possibility of winning 5 seats It is currently held by Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.
The Ministry of Justice also participated. An incident that challenges a new map It was filed by the California Republican Party last week. The Trump administration has accused California of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering by using race as a factor favoring Hispanic voters in new maps. The bill asks a judge to bar California from using the new maps in future elections.
“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is exactly what the California Legislature did with Proposition 50, the latest ballot initiative that supports overriding California’s existing electoral maps and abruptly changing the boundaries of California’s congressional districts,” the complaint states.
Prop 50 was Newsom’s response. President Trump’s strategy In Texas, Republicans redistricted their districts in hopes of gaining five seats of their own ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in which control of the House will be at stake.
Democrats only need to win a handful of seats next year control the roomThis would jeopardize President Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term and pave the way for a congressional investigation into his administration. Republicans won 219 seats and Democrats won 214 seats.
The showdown between the two most populous states in the country spread nationwide. missouriNorth Carolina, ohio Adopt new district boundaries that could have partisan advantages. Other states We are considering a similar move.
The national impact of California’s voting system was evident both in the money it raised and the celebrities involved. Tens of millions of dollars poured into the race, including a $5 million contribution to opponents from the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super political action committee tied to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
Former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opposed itOn the other hand, former Democratic President Barack Obama Appeared in advertisements supporting itsaid it was a “sensible” approach to counter Republican efforts aimed at preserving control of the House.
The contest gave Newsom the following results: national platform He also confirmed that he would consider running for the White House in 2028.
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Richer reported from Chicago.
