US Justice Department Blocks California Redistricting with Lawsuit

"Unconstitutional Racial Gerrymandering"

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California's redistricting law, which was enacted to help the Democratic Party secure additional seats in the US House of Representatives.

Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

According to reports from the Associated Press and others on November 13 (local time), the Department of Justice has submitted a lawsuit to the federal court in California seeking to block the recently passed redistricting law, "California Proposition 50 of 2025." In its complaint, the Department of Justice stated that the law "abandons the existing electoral structure and hastily redraws the boundaries of California's congressional districts," further arguing that "race cannot be used as a tool for political gain, but the California State Legislature has done exactly that." The Trump administration maintains that California's redistricting plan favors Hispanic voters, which it claims violates the constitutional prohibition against racial gerrymandering.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an email statement, "California's redistricting is a blatant power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process," adding, "Governor Gavin Newsom's attempt to solidify one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not be tolerated."

It was President Trump and the Republican Party who first attempted redistricting to secure additional seats in the House of Representatives. President Trump pushed for redistricting in Republican-leaning states, including Texas, to increase their representation in the House, and Texas passed a redistricting plan in August to add five seats. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom, considered a leading Democratic presidential contender, pursued a similar redistricting approach, and the bill was approved by two-thirds of voters in a referendum on November 4. Following the approval, the California Republican Party filed a lawsuit in the Central District Court of California on November 5, seeking an injunction to halt the implementation of the redistricting plan.