The California Supreme Court rejected a Republican effort to challenge the legality of Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) redistricting plan.
According to the court, it is permissible for Democrats to avoid a 30-day minimum for new legislative proposals, as the lawmakers seek to change the contents of bills introduced in February. “Petitioners have failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time under California Constitution article IV, section 8,” a brief read.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision is not the end of this fight. Although the Court denied our petition, it did not explain the reason for its ruling. This means Governor Newsom and the Democrats’ plan to gut the voter-created Citizens Redistricting Commission, silence public input, and stick taxpayers with a $200+ million bill will proceed,” Senator Tony Strickland, Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares, Assemblyman Tri Ta and Assemblywoman Kathryn Sanchez said in a statement on the court’s decision. “Polls show most Democrats, Republicans, and independents want to keep the commission, not give politicians the power to rig maps. We will continue to challenge this unconstitutional power grab in the courts and at the ballot box. Californians deserve fair, transparent elections, not secret backroom deals to protect politicians.”
In announcing the lawsuit, Ta stated that “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.”
The new map shifts five of California’s Republican House seats to favor Democrats, CBS News reported.
