The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit to block new congressional district boundaries in California, a move that could influence the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 2026 elections. The suit, filed Thursday in federal court, challenges the map approved by California voters last week and sets up a legal battle between Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and the Republican-led administration under President Donald Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “California’s redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process. Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.”
In response, Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards said, “These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court.”
This marks the first time the Justice Department has taken legal action over recent mid-decade revisions to House district maps designed to provide partisan advantage before next year’s elections. While three Republican-led states—Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina—have redrawn their district lines following calls from President Trump for changes aimed at increasing GOP representation in Congress, they have not faced similar federal lawsuits.
Civil rights groups have argued that changes in Texas and Missouri disadvantage minority communities at polling stations.
California voters recently passed Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment altering congressional districts to give Democrats an opportunity to win five seats currently held by Republicans during next year’s midterm elections.
The Justice Department joined an existing lawsuit against California’s new map brought by the state Republican Party. The Trump administration claims California engaged in racial gerrymandering by using race as a factor to favor Hispanic voters with its new districts. The lawsuit asks for a judge to prevent use of these new boundaries in future elections.
“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Proposition 50 — the recent ballot initiative that junked California’s pre-existing electoral map in favor of a rush-job rejiggering of California’s congressional district lines,” according to language from the complaint.
Proposition 50 was introduced by Newsom as a reaction to redistricting efforts led by Republicans in Texas seeking similar gains ahead of 2026 when control of Congress will be contested. Currently, Republicans hold 219 seats while Democrats have 214; only a few seat changes could shift control of the chamber.
The contest between these two populous states has prompted other states like Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio to redraw districts for potential partisan gain. Similar proposals are being considered elsewhere.
Significant national attention has focused on California’s measure due both to large financial contributions—including $5 million from Congressional Leadership Fund associated with House Speaker Mike Johnson—and involvement from prominent figures such as former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (who opposed it) and former Democratic President Barack Obama (who supported it), who called it “a smart approach” against GOP efforts to maintain House control.
