The Justice Department filed suit Thursday against California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, challenging the state’s newly adopted congressional redistricting plan under Proposition 50. The department alleges the plan constitutes racial gerrymandering in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Proposition 50 amended the California Constitution to allow the legislature to redraw congressional districts. DOJ officials say legislative records and public statements show race, particularly Latino demographics, played a dominant role in creating the new map, in violation of federal law.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said the department is acting quickly to prevent the maps from influencing upcoming elections. “California is free to draw congressional maps, but they may not be drawn based on race,” Essayli said.
