California Republicans file legal challenge to redistricting push

Source: Politico

A coalition of California Republicans filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently approved redistricting effort, an immediate attempt to thwart Democrats’ gerrymandering plan just hours after their resounding win.

The lawsuit, which was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims the state’s move to redraw its congressional lines is unconstitutional and violates the 14th and 15th Amendments for redistricting on the basis of race, “specifically to favor Hispanic voters, without cause or evidence to justify it.”

“While the Constitution entrusts States with designing congressional districts, the Supreme Court has also held that states may not, without a compelling reason backed by evidence that was in fact considered, separate citizens into different voting districts on the basis of race,” the lawsuit reads.

California voters Tuesday overwhelmingly passed the Newsom-backed gerrymandering plan, paving the way for California to join a constellation of other states in redrawing their congressional lines to favor the party in power. The move specifically aimed to counter similar redistricting efforts from Texas Republicans.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/california-republicans-file-legal-challenge-185904704.html