California Republicans filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block a new U.S. House map approved by voters under Proposition 50, a measure championed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
According to The Associated Press, the new map is expected to help Democrats flip as many as five congressional seats in next year’s midterm elections. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims the mapmakers illegally used race to favor Hispanic voters and asks the court to block the new boundaries before the 2026 elections.
The case was filed by The Dhillon Law Group, the California firm founded by Harmeet Dhillon, now serving as an assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.
“The map is designed to favor one race of California voters over others,” attorney Mike Columbo said at a news conference. “This violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law, and the right under the 15th Amendment.”
Newsom’s office dismissed the challenge in a social media post, saying the state had not yet reviewed the lawsuit but was confident it would fail.
“Good luck, losers,” the post read.
It’s unclear whether a three-judge panel will grant a temporary restraining order before December 19, when candidates can begin collecting voter signatures to reduce filing fees — the first step in running for office in the 2026 midterms. Columbo said he hopes for a decision within weeks.
Republicans have filed several lawsuits attempting to block Democrats’ redistricting efforts in California, but none have succeeded so far.
