By Michael Chen, Political Correspondent
August 28, 2025
California Republicans have escalated their battle against Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial redistricting plan, filing a new lawsuit with the California Supreme Court on August 25, 2025, to block the measure from appearing on the November 4 ballot. The 432-page petition, led by the California Republican Party and the Dhillon Law Group, argues that the Democratic-led initiative, Proposition 50, violates the state Constitution by undermining the voter-approved independent redistricting process and combining two distinct issues into a single ballot measure. This marks the GOP’s second attempt in a week to halt the plan, following a rejected emergency petition on August 20.
The lawsuit contends that Proposition 50, which seeks voter approval to replace California’s nonpartisan congressional maps with ones favoring Democrats, bypasses the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by voters in 2008 and 2010 to prevent partisan gerrymandering. Republicans argue that Democrats used a “gut and amend” tactic—replacing the text of existing bills (Assembly Bill 604 and Senate Bill 280) with redistricting language—to skirt the constitutional 30-day public review period for new legislation. The filing asserts that this rushed process denies voters transparency and that the ballot measure improperly asks two questions: whether to amend the U.S. Constitution for nationwide independent redistricting and whether to adopt partisan maps for 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
The California Supreme Court’s earlier ruling on August 20 dismissed the GOP’s initial challenge, stating that petitioners, including Senators Tony Strickland and Suzette Martinez Valladares and Assemblymembers Tri Ta and Kate Sanchez, “failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief” under the state Constitution. The court’s brief order offered no explanation, prompting Republican lawmakers to vow continued legal and electoral challenges. “This is not the end of this fight,” they said in a joint statement, decrying the plan as an “unconstitutional power grab” that could cost taxpayers over $200 million for the special election.
Newsom’s redistricting push, signed into law on August 22, responds to a Trump-backed effort in Texas to redraw congressional maps, aiming to secure five additional Republican seats in 2026. California Democrats argue that their plan, which could flip five Republican-held seats, is a necessary countermeasure to “neutralize” GOP gerrymandering. Unlike Texas, where lawmakers directly control redistricting, California’s maps require voter approval due to its independent commission, making Proposition 50 critical. Newsom framed the effort as a stand against “Trump’s power grab,” stating, “We’re giving Californians a choice to fight back.”
The legal battle has sparked heated debate. Republicans, including Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, have called the Democratic plan “corrupt,” alleging it silences public input and erodes trust in elections. They’ve also requested a federal investigation into the map-drawing process, citing unverified reports of legislators securing favorable districts. Democrats, led by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, defend the measure as transparent, emphasizing that voters will have the final say on November 4.
Posts on X capture the polarized sentiment. @ZavalaA reported the GOP’s latest lawsuit, noting its claim that the measure violates constitutional rules. @RepLaMalfa criticized the proposed maps, arguing they pair disparate communities like Modoc County and Marin County, undermining fair representation. Conversely, some users support Newsom, with one writing, “California’s fighting Trump’s election rigging with Prop 50. Voters deserve this choice.”
Legal experts, like constitutional scholar David Carrillo, suggest the Supreme Court is unlikely to remove Proposition 50 from the ballot, as such actions are rare and reserved for extreme cases. However, the lawsuit could fuel a broader campaign against the measure, with conservative donor Charlie Munger Jr. funding opposition mailers warning of weakened democratic processes. As the November 4 special election nears, the fight over California’s congressional maps continues to intensify, with national implications for the 2026 midterms.
Sources: Law.com, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CalMatters, ABC7 Los Angeles, posts on X