The US Justice Department have officially joined a legal challenge initiated by California Republicans, aiming to halt the California's newly approved congressional redistricting map.
This legal action, submitted to a US district court, targets the map championed 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 civil rights and undermines the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have expressed confidence that the redistricting plan will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs were defeated in the election and they are likely to also lose in court," commented a representative for the governor.
Constitutional Challenge
The lawsuit claims that California's map wrongfully utilized race as a factor to heavily favor Hispanic voters in contravention 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 high-ranking representative from the DOJ's civil rights unit.
Broader Implications
The legal battle constitutes the major response by Democrats in the ongoing political battle that started with Texas and has spread across various parts of the country.
Unlike other states, where GOP-controlled legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan needed voter approval, which it received 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 chamber in next year's midterm election.
The political group controlling the majority will shape the remaining period of the current administration, deciding if a GOP-controlled legislature will persist in implementing its agenda or face resistance, investigations and possible further challenges.
- Legal counsel for the challengers is being provided by a prominent law firm
- The firm's founder currently serves as senior DOJ official
- However, this individual has been recused from this particular case
