California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a sharp warning to the Trump Administration after the Justice Department joined a Republican-led lawsuit on Thursday challenging the state’s newly approved congressional districts. The lawsuit claims that the districts, approved by voters on Nov. 4 under Proposition 50, violate the Constitution by using race as a factor in drawing boundaries.
Newsom’s office responded bluntly, calling the plaintiffs “losers” who lost at the ballot box and predicting they will “also lose in court.” Proposition 50, spearheaded by Newsom and other California Democrats, aims to redraw congressional districts in a way that could give Democrats a chance to gain five House seats in next year’s midterm elections. The move follows recent Republican-led redistricting in Texas that shifted several districts to favor GOP candidates.
The Department of Justice lawsuit describes Proposition 50 as “a rush-job rejiggering of California’s congressional district lines” and argues that “race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests.” The DOJ claims that in at least one district, Latino demographics and racial considerations were used to shape the map, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, stated, “Race was a predominant factor in drawing at least District 13 in the Proposition 50 map,” and called the maps “unlawful and unconstitutional.”
The lawsuit alleges that Democratic lawmakers discussed using redistricting to counter the Texas map, presenting Proposition 50 as a “shield” against what they called “racist maps.” DOJ attorneys assert the aim was to strengthen Democratic political power while emphasizing race in internal discussions.
Newsom’s office highlighted a factual error in the lawsuit, noting that it mistakenly referred to California’s State Assembly as a “General Assembly,” a term used in other states like North Carolina. “When Trump’s hand-picked hacks at DOJ can’t tell California from North Carolina, you know the lawsuit is about as credible as Trump’s ‘I don’t know Epstein’ line,” the press office said.
The governor has a history of successfully challenging the Trump Administration in court. Earlier this year, federal judges blocked Trump’s attempts to deploy California National Guard troops to Los Angeles protests and to Portland, ruling that such actions violated federal law.
Proposition 50 passed with more than 64% of voters supporting the measure, giving the public the final say in California’s congressional redistricting. The measure is part of a wider national debate over redistricting, with both parties seeking to reshape districts in their favor. In Texas, Republicans redrew congressional boundaries in August, leading Democrats to leave the state in protest, though the new map was ultimately approved by Governor Greg Abbott.
California’s redistricting battle reflects broader tensions nationwide over the political and racial implications of congressional map changes, with legal challenges expected to continue as parties seek to influence the 2026 midterm elections.
