The US Justice Department has officially joined a lawsuit initiated by California Republicans, aiming to halt the California's newly approved electoral boundaries.
This legal action, submitted to 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 constitutes a blatant attempt to seize control that violates voting rights and undermines the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have voiced assurance that the new maps will withstand legal scrutiny.
"These opponents lost at the ballot box and they are likely to also lose in court," commented a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The legal challenge claims that California's map improperly used race as a factor to heavily favor Latino communities in contravention of the federal constitution.
"Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the state legislature did with Proposition 50," argued 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 started with Texas and has extended to multiple states.
Unlike other states, where GOP-controlled legislatures have implemented partisan maps, California's plan required public consent, which it obtained with nearly 65% of the vote.
National Implications
The Democratic party need to gain just a handful of GOP-controlled 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 continue to deliver its political program or face resistance, congressional probes and potential additional obstacles.
- Legal counsel for the challengers is being handled by a prominent law firm
- The firm's founder currently serves as assistant attorney general
- However, this attorney has been recused from this particular case
