News|PoliticsTrump administration joins lawsuit against California’s redistricting mapsVoters’ approval of Proposition 50 means Democrats might win up to five additional seats in the US House of Representatives in 2026.
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has joined a lawsuit against California over the state’s redistricting effort, which was approved by a landslide in the November 4 election.
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has joined a lawsuit against California over the state’s redistricting effort, which was approved by a landslide in the November 4 election.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice said it would seek to overturn California’s new map of congressional districts, which was passed through a ballot initiative with approximately 64 percent support.
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She accused California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, of attempting to stifle Republican voices in his state. “Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.”
The ballot measure , known as Proposition 50, is poised to redraw the boundaries of electoral districts to favour the Democrats in next year’s midterm elections.
The proposition was designed as a counterattack against Trump ’s gerrymandering in Republican states.
She accused California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, of attempting to stifle Republican voices in his state.
In Texas, for instance, the Trump White House urged the state legislature to pass new congressional districts that would allow the Republicans the opportunity to win five more seats in the House of Representatives in 2026.
In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the new Republican-backed map into law.
Republicans also expect to gain one seat each from new maps in Missouri and North Carolina, and potentially two more in Ohio. Civil rights advocates have argued that the new boundaries in Texas and Missouri illegally disadvantage minority communities at the ballot box.
Advertisement Proposition 50 in California means that Democrats might win as many as five additional seats in the House in 2026, in an explicit attempt to offset the new Texas congressional map.
However, the California Republican Party and 19 registered voters sued the state in federal court on November 5, a day after the election was held.
They claimed California’s redistricting effort violates provisions of the US Constitution by unlawfully favouring Hispanic communities.
The Justice Department has echoed those concerns in its complaint. It argues that California’s map “manipulates district lines in the name of bolstering the voting power of Hispanic Californians because of their race”.
Tonight, California sent a powerful message to Donald Trump. We will fight for our democracy. And we will win.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.