The redistricting in force in the referendum is a “race-based redistricting,” which violates the Constitution, the Republican added. “Race cannot be used as an excuse to advance political interests,” said Bondi’s deputy in charge of civil rights, Jesus Osete.
The citizens of Democratic-leaning California voted in a referendum on November 4th for a new design of electoral districts in the state. Newsom scored a clear victory. The 58-year-old is a bitter opponent of US President Donald Trump. He and his Democrats viewed the referendum as a clear signal against Trump.
The politically heated dispute over constituency redistricting recently flared up again after the Republican-controlled Texas state legislature initiated such a reorganization. With it, Trump’s party could win five additional seats in the midterm elections for Congress next year. The Democrats, who dominate in California, responded to this with the initiative for a temporary redistricting, which is expected to benefit their party to the same extent in the congressional election.
The practice of arranging constituencies for political reasons has a long tradition in the USA – and has repeatedly been a concern for the Supreme Court. It is called “gerrymandering”: the word is made up of the name of Elbridge Gerry, an 18th century governor of Massachusetts, and the word salamander. Gerry had tailored a voting district in his state to his advantage so that it took the shape of a salamander.
