DOJ joins California Republicans' lawsuit against Gavin Newsom over Proposition 50 vote

William Melhado, The Sacramento Bee on Nov 13, 2025

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The United States Department of Justice filed a motion Thursday to assist a Republican-led lawsuit filed last week that aims to overturn California’s redistricting plan, which nearly two-thirds of voters approved last Tuesday.

Proposition 50 redrew California’s congressional districts with the hope of electing five more Democrats to the House of Representatives, which state leaders pushed after President Donald Trump urged Texas, successfully, to gerrymander its maps in favor of Republicans.

Hours after the polls closed last week, a GOP state lawmaker and the state Republican Party sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, alleging Prop. 50 violates the 14th and 15th Amendments.

The federal government hopes to intervene in the case that accuses the California Legislature of racially gerrymandering the state’s congressional districts to favor Hispanic residents, who at 40% make up the largest voting bloc in the state.

“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Prop. 50,” Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jesus Osete said in a statement announcing the filing.

Assembly member 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.

“These losers lost at the ballot box, and soon they will also lose in court,” said Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards in a statement.

Before Prop. 50 passed by over 64%, according to early election results, California Republicans made multiple attempts to block the ballot initiative. Those failed.

The federal government’s involvement in the case is the latest escalation in the fight to retain control of the House.

Trump has pressured other GOP-led states to carve out more Republican seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democratic leaders, including Newsom, have encouraged blue states to similarly push back through redistricting.

Despite both parties redrawing states’ maps, the federal DOJ on Thursday singled out California’s redistricting effort as a “brazen power grab.”

“Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.

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