The Justice Department is joining a lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts. The lawsuit follows California voters approving Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment that gives Democrats an advantage to capture five U.S. House seats held by Republicans in the 2026 midterm 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,” the lawsuit says, according to USA TODAY. The California Republican Party filed the lawsuit shortly after November 4th’s election. Breaking: The Justice Department is joining a lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the redrawing of the state's congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. https://t.co/S7tniOD3f5 pic.twitter.com/Um5c4xZbT6 — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 13, 2025 USA TODAY shared: California’s move to redraw district boundaries came in response to the Texas Legislature redrawing districts to be more friendly to Republicans. Several lawsuits have been brought over that effort and have not been joined by the Justice Department. A few other states have redrawn their district boundaries in what has become a race to use voter makeup to help determine which party controls the House after the 2026 elections. “Today @TheJusticeDept sued @CAgovernor over his brazen Proposition 50 redistricting power grab,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “Newsom should be concerned about keeping Californians safe and shutting down Antifa violence, not rigging his state for political gain,” she added. Today @TheJusticeDept sued @CAgovernor over his brazen Proposition 50 redistricting power grab. Newsom should be concerned about keeping Californians safe and shutting down Antifa violence, not rigging his state for political gain.https://t.co/Vi2WAS7VX4 — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) November 13, 2025 More from the Associated Press: Democrats need to gain just a handful of seats next year to take control of the chamber, which would imperil Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term and open the way for congressional investigations into his administration. Republicans hold 219 seats, to Democrats’ 214. The showdown between the nation’s two most populous states has spread nationally, with Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio adopting new district lines that could provide a partisan advantage. Other states are considering similar moves. The national implications of California’s ballot measure were clear in both the money it attracted and the high-profile figures who became involved. Tens of millions of dollars flowed into the race, including a $5 million donation to opponents from the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super political action committee tied to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposed it, while former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, appeared in ads supporting it, calling it a “smart” approach to counter Republican moves aimed at safeguarding House control. The contest provided Newsom with a national platform and he has confirmed he will consider a White House run in 2028.