The US Justice Department have officially joined a legal challenge initiated by California Republicans, seeking to block the California's recently passed electoral boundaries.
This court case, filed in a US district court, targets the redistricting plan championed by the state's Democratic governor, which was developed in response to a GOP redistricting effort in Texas.
"The state's redistricting scheme represents a blatant attempt to seize control that violates civil rights and mocks the electoral system," declared the US attorney general.
The Democratic party have expressed confidence that the new maps will survive court challenges.
"The plaintiffs lost at the ballot box and they are likely to also lose in court," stated a representative for the governor.
Constitutional Challenge
The lawsuit claims that California's map improperly used race as a factor to significantly advantage Latino communities in contravention of the US Constitution.
"Race cannot be used as a substitute to further partisan goals, but that is precisely what the state legislature did with the redistricting measure," stated a senior official from the Civil Rights Division.
Broader Implications
The legal battle represents the major response by the Democratic party in the continuing political battle that started with Texas and has extended to multiple states.
In contrast to elsewhere, where GOP-controlled legislatures have implemented partisan maps, California's plan required voter approval, which it received with approximately two-thirds of the vote.
National Implications
Democrats need to gain just a handful of GOP-controlled House seats to gain majority of the House of Representatives in next year's congressional elections.
The party that holds the majority will influence the remaining period of the sitting president's term, deciding if a unified Republican Congress will continue to deliver its political program or face resistance, congressional probes and possible additional obstacles.
- Legal representation for the challengers is being provided by a well-known legal group
- The managing partner currently serves as assistant attorney general
- However, this attorney has been recused from this particular case
