The Department of Justice has sued California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber for the State of California’s newly adopted redistricting plan enacted with the passage of Proposition 50.
The suit alleges that the plan mandates racially gerrymandered congressional districts in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
"California’s redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand."
Proposition 50 amends the California Constitution, allowing the legislature to draw a new congressional-district map. Substantial evidence, including that in the legislative record and public statements, indicates that the legislature created a new map in which Latino demographics and racial considerations predominated, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause.
"Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Prop 50," said Jesus A. Osete, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "Californians were sold an illegal, racially gerrymandered map, but the U.S. Constitution prohibits its use in 2026 and beyond."
The 20-page document was filed in California's district court and claims that the proposition used race as a proxy to advance political interests.
Tangipa and US v Newsom 2 25 Cv 10616 Complaint in Intervention by scott.mcclallen
"The race-based gerrymandered maps passed by the California legislature are unlawful and unconstitutional," said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. "The U.S. Department of Justice is moving swiftly to prevent these illegal maps from tainting our upcoming elections. California is free to draw congressional maps, but they may not be drawn based on race."
The Department’s motion to intervene in Tangipa et al v Newsom is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon has been recused from this case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete will represent the Department on this matter.
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Today @TheJusticeDept sued @CAgovernor over his brazen Proposition 50 redistricting power grab.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) November 13, 2025
Newsom should be concerned about keeping Californians safe and shutting down Antifa violence, not rigging his state for political gain.https://t.co/Vi2WAS7VX4
🚨Breaking News🚨
— Mark Meuser (@MarkMeuser) November 13, 2025
The U.S. Department of Justice just filed a motion to Intervene in our lawsuit against the State of California over the Proposition 50's map. We have filed a motion for an injunction requesting that the Federal Courts stop California from using the Prop 50's… pic.twitter.com/uicvfYQuwZ
The lawsuit asks the court to declare the redistricting map unlawful.
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