The US Justice Department have entered the fray in a lawsuit brought forward by California Republicans, seeking to block the state's newly approved electoral boundaries.
This legal action, filed in a US district court, challenges the redistricting plan supported by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in response to a Republican-led gerrymander in Texas.
"The state's electoral map represents a blatant attempt to seize control that violates voting rights and undermines the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
Democrats have expressed confidence that the redistricting plan will survive legal scrutiny.
"These opponents were defeated in the election and they are likely to also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Legal Basis
The legal challenge claims that California's map improperly used race as a factor to heavily favor Latino communities in contravention of the US Constitution.
"It is unconstitutional to use race as a substitute to further partisan goals, but that is exactly what the state legislature did with Proposition 50," stated a high-ranking representative from the Civil Rights Division.
Political Context
The legal battle constitutes the major response by the Democratic party in the continuing political battle that began in Texas and has spread across multiple states.
Unlike other states, where Republican state legislatures have enacted gerrymanders, California's plan needed public consent, which it received with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
Wider Consequences
The Democratic party need to gain just a handful of GOP-controlled House seats to take control of the House of Representatives in next year's midterm election.
The political group controlling the majority will influence the final years of the sitting president's term, deciding if a unified Republican Congress will persist in implementing its political program or encounter opposition, investigations and possible additional obstacles.
- Legal representation for the plaintiffs is being provided by a prominent law firm
- The firm's founder currently holds the position of assistant attorney general
- However, this individual has been removed from the current litigation
