Federal authorities has entered the fray in a lawsuit brought forward by California Republicans, seeking to block the California's newly approved congressional redistricting map.
This court case, submitted to a US district court, targets the redistricting plan championed by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in reaction against a Republican-led gerrymander in Texas.
"California's redistricting scheme constitutes a blatant attempt to seize control that tramples on civil rights and undermines the electoral system," declared the nation's top law enforcement official.
Democrats have voiced assurance that the redistricting plan will withstand legal scrutiny.
"The plaintiffs were defeated in the election and they are likely to also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Constitutional Challenge
The lawsuit claims that California's map wrongfully utilized race as a factor to significantly advantage Latino communities 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," stated a senior official from the DOJ's civil rights unit.
Broader Implications
The legal battle constitutes the major counterpunch by the Democratic party in the continuing redistricting war that began in Texas and has extended to various parts of the country.
In contrast to elsewhere, where GOP-controlled legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan required voter approval, which it received with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
National Implications
Democrats need to gain just a small number of Republican-held House seats to gain majority of the House of Representatives in next year's midterm election.
The party that holds the controlling share will influence the final years of the sitting president's term, determining whether a unified Republican Congress will continue to deliver its agenda or encounter opposition, congressional probes and potential further challenges.
- Legal counsel for the plaintiffs is being handled by a prominent law firm
- The managing partner currently holds the position of senior DOJ official
- However, this individual has been removed from the current litigation
