The victory lap California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) attempted to take after Proposition 50 (aka Newsom's Election Rigging Act) passed last Tuesday was brought up short by the lawsuit filed by the California Republican Party and 19 individuals against the governor and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber the following day.
The suit alleges that the Prop. 50 maps violate the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as they were drawn "based on race, specifically to favor Hispanic voters, without cause or evidence to justify it."
In conjunction with the complaint, the plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction enjoining and prohibiting the defendants from enforcing the Prop. 50 maps.
Now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is moving to intervene in the suit. In its memo accompanying the motion to intervene, the DOJ asserts that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 authorize the United States to intervene as of right. Alternatively, the DOJ argues that it qualifies for what's known as permissive intervention because its claims share “common question[s] of law and fact” with the plaintiffs’ claims.
On Wednesday, Central District of California Judge Josephine Stanton granted a motion to intervene filed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), so presumably, she will do the same with the DOJ's motion.
Following the filing of the motion, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jesus Osete issued a statement:
“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Prop. 50."
...
Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, the state Republican Party and several other plaintiffs are represented by the Dhillon Law Group, whose founding partner is Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. The DOJ said Thursday that Dhillon has been recused from this case.
ALSO SEE: Newsom's Election Rigging Act Passes; CA Congressional Republicans Are on the Brink of Extinction
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X regarding the DOJ's move.
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
Today @TheJusticeDept sued @CAgovernor over his brazen Proposition 50 redistricting power grab.
Newsom should be concerned about keeping Californians safe and shutting down Antifa violence, not rigging his state for political gain.
Governor Newsom's office also issued a statement regarding the suit: “These losers lost at the ballot box, and soon they will also lose in court."
The motion for preliminary injunction has been noticed for hearing on December 5.
RedState will continue to follow the case and provide updates as warranted.
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