Arguing that it favors Latino and Hispanic voters, California Republican Party filed federal lawsuit to the passage of Proposition 50 in the special election in the state of November 4.
The initiative, promoted by Governor Gavin Newsom, proposes modifying California’s electoral districts for the Democratic Party to gain five more seats in the House of Representatives ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Governor Gavin Newsom and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
Keep reading: What’s next for California after the approval of Proposition 50?
Republicans argue that the new maps violate the Voting Rights Act by favoring Latino and Hispanic voters.
To redistribute electoral districts, California needed approval from residents by votebecause the independent redistricting commission was created more than a decade ago also in a state electoral process.
The state commission redistricts every 10 years according to the United States Census, but with Proposition 50 changes can be made temporarily.
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The new maps They will be in force for the next three elections and they seek to eliminate up to five Republican seats from California’s representation in Congress.
In filing the lawsuit, attorney Mike Columbo cited map artist Paul Mitchell and Democratic legislative leaders who They stated that the new districts give more voting power to Latinos than other groups.
“The map is designed to favor one race of Californian voters over others. This violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. and the right, protected by the 15th Amendment, to not have voting restricted on the basis of race,” Columbo said.
Keep reading: California decides: special election for Proposition 50
The Dhillon Law Group, which is handling the California Republican Party litigation, argues that there is a multi-part process that must be met before redistrictingand mentioned the 1986 Supreme Court case Thornburg v. Gingles.
That case established a test that requires evidence of vote dilution of minority groups during redistribution.
The group of lawyers argued that California legislature never received analysis showing racism in current districts and that the maps violate the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees equal protection.
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On social networksGovernor Gavin Newsom’s office said that The state has not reviewed the lawsuit, but is confident that the election challenge will fail..
“We have not reviewed the claim, but if it comes from the California Republican Party and Harmeet Dhillon’s law firm, it’s going to fail. Good luck losers,” Newsom’s representation said in his post.
The lawsuit was announced by California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin, Republican Assemblyman David Tangipa and attorneys at Dhillon Law Group.
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The plaintiffs request a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent Proposition 50 maps from going into effect.
The group of lawyers estimated that The legal dispute could last for several weeks and anticipated that the losing party will still file an appeal before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since before the special election, Republican lawmakers They tried to block the arrival of Proposition 50 on the ballots.
Keep reading: Proposition 50: 1 in 5 California voters have returned their ballots
In August, the California Supreme Court rejected an emergency petition of the state Republican Party and the Dhillon Law Group to prevent the Nov. 4 special election.
Proposition 50 emerged as a direct response to the Trump administration’s attempt to change congressional districts. in Texas and other Republican-led states, where voter approval is not needed.
Keep reading:
· Voto Latino and UFW launch ‘La Neta’ campaign for Proposition 50 in California
· California opened Proposition 50 early voting centers on Saturday
· North Carolina Republican lawmakers approve new electoral map