Federal authorities have entered the fray in a lawsuit brought forward by California Republicans, seeking to halt the state's newly approved electoral boundaries.
This court case, filed in 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.
"The state's redistricting scheme represents a blatant attempt to seize control that violates civil rights and undermines the democratic process," declared the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have voiced assurance that the new maps will withstand legal scrutiny.
"The plaintiffs were defeated in the election and they are likely to also lose in court," commented a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The lawsuit claims that California's map improperly used racial considerations to significantly advantage Hispanic voters in contravention of the federal constitution.
"It is unconstitutional to use race as a proxy to further partisan goals, but that is precisely what the state legislature did with the redistricting measure," argued a high-ranking representative from the Civil Rights Division.
Political Context
The legal battle constitutes the major counterpunch by Democrats in the ongoing political battle that began in Texas and has extended to various parts of the country.
In contrast to elsewhere, where Republican state legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan needed voter approval, which it obtained with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
Wider Consequences
Democrats need to flip just a handful of Republican-held House seats to gain majority of the House of Representatives in next year's midterm election.
The political group controlling the controlling share 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 counsel for the challengers is being provided by a well-known legal group
- The managing partner currently serves as senior DOJ official
- However, this attorney has been removed from the current litigation
