California Republicans Sue to Block Proposition 50 House Map

California Republicans are suing to block the voter-approved redrawing of congressional maps from Proposition 50

California Republicans filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday to block the new US House map approved by voters this week.

Proposition 50 was designed to help Democrats flip up to 5 congressional House seats in the midterm election this year. Prop 50 was aiming to blunt Texas Republicans’ attempts to redraw their own maps to also pick up 5 more GOP seats at Trump’s request. By redrawing congressional maps to leverage voters, this can make a large difference in Congress.

The lawsuit filed by the Dhillon Law Group claims that map-makers for the proposition improperly used race as a factor to favor Latino voters/communities. Claiming it was “without cause or evidence to justify it.”

Dhillon Law Group is a California Law firm started by Harmeet Dhillon, the current assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. Mike Columbo, partner at Dhillon, whose plaintiffs include a state Republican lawmaker and 18 other voters, said, “The map is designed to favor one race of California voters over others.”

Citing press releases from state Democrats, lawmakers said that the new map “retains and expands Voting Rights Act districts that empower Latino voters” while making no changes to Black majority districts in the Oakland and Los Angeles areas, the lawsuit says. Furthering the idea that there have been improper accommodations made towards Hispanic or Latino communities.

Columbo is looking for the case to reach the Supreme Court. But first, the suit is looking to gain a restraining order before December 19, when congressional candidates can start collecting signatures to qualify for the midterm ballot.