California GOP Lawmakers Ask Justices to Block Redistricting (2)

California Republican state lawmakers asked the state’s top court to block Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan in an emergency petition.

Newsom (D) is flouting the public’s right to have 30 days to comment on proposed legislation and the court must pause the process by Wednesday, the petition said.

“The stark issue for this court to decide in this case is whether this constitutional right is merely the right to publication of a bill number rather than publication of the proposed legislation in that bill,” the Monday petition said.

Democratic lawmakers used a “gut and amend” tactic to insert the redistricting package into the body of two unrelated bills whose numbers—and no other information—were previously published, the petition said.

“This case does not challenge the use of gut and amend for all purposes, but is confined to the narrow case where the Legislature blatantly and intentionally uses it to circumvent a constitutional right of the people to adequate time to review proposed legislation—a right that is inherently meant to restrain the Legislature from ramming legislation into law without an opportunity for the public to review it,” the petition said.

Redistricting would carve racial minorities out of their districts and shatter their voting blocs, so the legislation is a matter of distinct public interest, the petition said.

California has an independent citizens’ commission for redistricting, but Newsom’s plan would override it. Newsom (D) is pushing for a statewide vote to approve congressional maps that would likely help Democrats gain five seats in the 2026 elections, offsetting potential Republican gains in a round of redistricting in Texas backed by President Donald Trump (R), ahead of Congressional midterm elections.

Several measures that would call for the election were scheduled for first committee hearings Tuesday morning as lawmakers rush to approve the plan ahead of a Friday deadline.

Republican lawmakers are trying to stall votes but with Democrats holding supermajorities in both the state Senate and Assembly, the GOP has limited options for countering the plan inside the state capitol.

“Republicans are filing a deeply unserious (and truly laughable) lawsuit to stop Americans from voting?” said Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards in a written comment. “We’re neither surprised, nor worried.”

Texas Democratic lawmakers returned to their state Monday after a two-week standoff that deprived their House of the required number of lawmakers to hold a vote on the map. The plan has already passed in the state Senate, but the Democrats have vowed to challenge the maps in court if they’re signed into law.

Other Democratic leaders are joining the fray. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) called to disband her state’s bipartisan redistricting committee, though new districts wouldn’t be ready before the midterms.

Dhillon Law Group Inc., which represents the lawmakers, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case is Strickland v Weber, Cal., No. S292490, 8/18/25.