The U.S. justice department has launched a lawsuit to block California’s newly approved congressional maps, accusing Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials of creating “racially gerrymandered districts” designed to favour Democrats.
Proposition 50, which voters approved last week, gives Democrats an edge in five districts and was promoted as a countermeasure to Republican redistricting efforts in Texas.
Attorney General Pam Bondi called the move a “brazen power grab,” arguing the maps use race as a proxy for political gain in violation of the 14th Amendment. Newsom’s office dismissed the criticism, saying opponents “lost at the ballot box” and would lose again in court.
Federal prosecutors say there is substantial evidence that Latino demographics were prioritised in drawing the new boundaries.
California officials, however, argue that the ballot measure is legal and reflects the will of voters, with Attorney General Rob Bonta noting that earlier legal challenges had already failed. The lawsuit marks the latest escalation in a national redistricting battle driven by President Donald Trump’s push to shape the 2026 midterms. California Republicans have filed their own suit, and Bonta accused the federal government of intervening to bolster that effort.
