Federal Court Rejects Effort To Halt Gavin Newsom-Led Redrawing Of California Congressional Districts

A federal court rejected Republican efforts to sideline the redistricting approved by California voters via Proposition 50, giving Governor Gavin Newsom and Democrats a win heading into the midterms.

In a ruling, two federal judges on a three-judge panel declined to issue an injunction to halt the implementation of the new maps.

“Having carefully reviewed and weighed the relevant evidence, we find that the evidence presented reflects that Proposition 50 was exactly what it was billed as: a political gerrymander designed to flip five Republican-held seats to the Democrats,” the opinion stated. “In other words, the ‘impetus for the adoption’ of the Proposition 50 Map was ‘partisan advantage pure and simple.’”

The judges also concluded that Republicans failed to show that the new maps amounted to illegal racial gerrymandering, drawn to favor Latino-majority districts.

“Proposition 50 was the single issue on the ballot for the November 4 special election: the Official Voter Information Guide provided maps to the voters showing both the existing district lines and the proposed new district lines,” the judges wrote. “And the pros and cons of Proposition 50 were outlined in purely political, partisan terms, with each side claiming the other was engaging in a ‘power grab.’ No one told the voters that the Proposition 50 Map involved racial gerrymandering. Over 7 million Californians voted ‘yes’ on Proposition 50, it passed by nearly a 2 to 1 margin, and the next day Plaintiffs filed their complaint in this Court.”

Newsom posted about the ruling on X, “Republicans’ weak attempt to silence voters failed. California voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 50 — to respond to Trump’s rigging in Texas — and that is exactly what this court concluded.”

Newsom led the effort to get the proposition on the November, billed as a temporary replacement for the state’s drawing districts via commissions. He argued that the new map — in which Democrats may gain five additional seats — was necessary to counter the mid-decade redrawing of districts by Republicans in Texas. Donald Trump has championed the redrawing of districts in Republican-controlled states.

A spokesperson for the California Republican Party did not immediately return a request for comment.

More to come.