LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Republican lawmakers in California filed a lawsuit Tuesday with the California Supreme Court to stop Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to redraw the U.S. House districts in the country's most populous state.
"Today I joined my colleagues in filing a lawsuit challenging the rushed redistricting process," California state assembly member Tri Ta wrote on social platform X, as the Democratic-controlled legislature prepares to vote this week on the plan in Sacramento, the state capital.
Redistricting means redrawing electoral district boundaries that impact elections for the U.S. House of Representatives.
"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," he said.
A petition shared by Ta showed four Republican legislators signed onto the filing.
Last week, Newsom said California would put a state constitutional amendment on the ballot in a Nov. 4 special election that could temporarily redraw the state's congressional districts mid-decade "to respond to what's happening in Texas." His plan would allow one-time adjustments in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
Newsom's proposal could net Democrats five more U.S. House seats to their current 43-9 majority. California, home to nearly 40 million residents, has the largest delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, with 52 seats.
The move came as the GOP-dominated Texas state House on Monday advanced a redistricting bill pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, following the return of Democratic lawmakers who had staged a two-week walkout in protest.
Following a 12-8 party-line panel vote, the redrawn congressional map, aiming to create five new Republican districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote this week.
The dueling efforts in California and Texas reflected a broader partisan struggle over congressional boundaries. Multiple U.S. media outlets have described it as an "arms race." ■