California Republican legislators on Tuesday announced a state Supreme Court petition, an effort to stop Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) plan to redistrict House seats in the Golden State.
“Today I joined my colleagues in filing a lawsuit challenging the rushed redistricting process. California’s Constitution requires bills to be in print for 30 days, but that safeguard was ignored. By bypassing this provision, Sacramento has effectively shut voters out of engaging in their own legislative process,” Assemblyman Tri Ta said on X.
The petition cites a section of the state constitution that requires a month-long review period for new legislation.
Democrats are working quickly to set up a special election that would let voters weigh in on the redistricting plan.
Four state Republican legislators have signed on to the petition, according to a copy for a writ of mandate, shared by the New York Times. They’re asking for immediate relief, no later than Aug. 20, and arguing that action can’t be taken on the legislative package before Sep. 18.
“Last night, we filed a petition with the California Supreme Court to stop the California legislature from violating the rights of the people of California,” said Mike Columbo, a partner at Dhillon Law Group, in a Tuesday press conference alongside California Republicans.
“The California constitution clearly gives the people of California the right to see new legislation that the legislature is going to consider, and it gives them the right to review it for 30 days,” Columbo said.
California Democrats swiftly introduced the redistricting legislative package when they reconvened after summer break on Monday, and are expected to vote as soon as Thursday. They have until Friday to complete the plan in time to set up a Nov. 4 special election.
Columbo called that pace of action a “flagrant violation” under the state constitution.
Democrats are aiming to put a ballot measure before voters that would allow temporary redistricting, effectively bypassing the existing independent redistricting commission — which was approved by voters more than a decade ago and typically redistricts after each census — to redraw lines in direct response to GOP gerrymandering in other states.
California Republicans have vowed to fight back. Democrats, on the other hand, are stressing that they’re moving transparently to let voters have the final say on whether redistricting happens.