Justice Department Sues Newsom, Alleging California's Proposition 50 Map Draws Congressional Districts by Race
On November 13, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had filed legal action against California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber over the state's newly adopted congressional redistricting plan enacted with the passage of Proposition 50. The department 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 voters had approved Proposition 50 on November 4.
The department said Proposition 50 amends the California Constitution, allowing the legislature to draw a new congressional district map, and that substantial evidence, including the legislative record and public statements, indicates the legislature created the new map with Latino demographics and racial considerations predominating, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. The United States asked the court to bar use of the map in the 2026 election and future elections.
"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." Jesus A. Osete, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, said race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, which is precisely what the California legislature did with Proposition 50. Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, said 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 the case, and Osete will represent the department in the matter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿的美国司法部总部大楼（资料照片）。APK摄，CC BY 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons；联邦固定图库同源图。 / Photo: The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington (file photo). By APK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; federal fixed image library image.
- 2025-11-04Zohran Mamdani Elected Mayor of New York City With 50.4% of the Vote, Becoming the City's First Muslim Mayor
- 2025-11-04Abigail Spanberger Elected Governor of Virginia With About 57.6% of the Vote, Becoming the State's First Woman Governor
- 2025-11-04Mikie Sherrill Elected Governor of New Jersey With About 56.9% of the Vote, Becoming the State's First Democratic Woman Governor
- 2025-11-04California Voters Approve Proposition 50 With About 64% in Favor, New Congressional Map to Take Effect in 2026
- 2025-11-13Justice Department Sues Newsom, Alleging California's Proposition 50 Map Draws Congressional Districts by RaceThis story
