The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against California, accusing the state of adopting racially gerrymandered congressional maps through a voter-approved measure that reshapes political power ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The lawsuit challenges Proposition 50, the redistricting bill overwhelmingly approved by California voters last week, which creates five new congressional districts that favor Democrats. Federal officials argue that the new map was designed to counter Republican gains secured through recently redrawn districts in Texas.
Attorney General Pam Bondi sharply criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, calling the maps a “brazen” attempt to manipulate electoral boundaries for partisan advantage. She accused the governor of seeking “to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians.”
Newsom’s office rejected the allegations, issuing a blistering response. “These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court,” a spokesperson said, emphasizing that voters had clearly endorsed the measure.
Bondi escalated her criticism by accusing Newsom of ignoring public safety concerns. “Newsom should be concerned about keeping Californians safe and shutting down Antifa violence, not rigging his state for political gain,” she said.
Federal prosecutors filed the complaint in a California federal court, asserting that the Democratic governor and Secretary of State Shirley Weber mandated “racially gerrymandered congressional districts,” violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. While gerrymandering for political purposes is legal in the United States, racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.
The Justice Department claims that “substantial evidence” shows the legislature prioritized Latino demographics and racial considerations when drawing the new lines. Jesus A. Osete, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, said voters were given an “illegal” map. “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Prop 50,” he said.
The redistricting changes form part of a national political struggle. President Donald Trump has backed aggressive redistricting efforts across several states in an attempt to strengthen the Republican Party’s position in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterms. Newsom, for his part, launched a campaign in August to suspend California’s independently created maps, arguing the state must “fight fire with fire” as Republican-controlled Texas undertook its own redrawing efforts.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta defended the ballot initiative and the governor, noting that prior legal challenges against Proposition 50 had failed. “Californians spoke loud and clear,” he said. “They are sick and tired of Trump’s lawlessness, his lies, and his inability to make life more affordable for all Americans. Their voices must be honored.”
The California Republican Party and several groups filed a separate lawsuit last week targeting Proposition 50. Bonta accused the federal government of attempting to “intervene” in that ongoing litigation, setting the stage for a political and legal showdown that could shape the state’s congressional landscape for years to come.
