DOJ Asks Supreme Court To Block California's Prop 50 Congressional Map
Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to halt Prop 50, citing District 13 as racially gerrymandered.
Overview
Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 2026, to block California's Prop 50 map, saying District 13 was drawn "on the basis of race," according to the filing.
The challenge matters because candidates begin filing under the map on Feb. 9, 2026, and the Supreme Court ordered a response from California by Jan. 29, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET.
Attorneys for Gov. Gavin Newsom told the court in papers that Republicans relied on a "flimsy veneer of racial gerrymandering" after losing at the ballot, according to state filings.
The DOJ intervened on behalf of California Republicans in the lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and submitted three alternative maps, records show.
The Supreme Court could rule before the Feb. 9, 2026, candidate filing deadline, and the outcome may be affected by its pending decision in Louisiana v. Callais, a case argued in Oct. 2025, court observers said.
Analysis
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Sources (3)
FAQ
Proposition 50 is a voter-approved ballot measure that adopts temporary congressional district maps for 2026 elections, drawn to favor Democrats by targeting Republican-held seats, in response to Republican redistricting in states like Texas; the maps expire after 2030.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed on Jan 22, 2026, arguing that California's District 13 was racially gerrymandered, drawn predominantly on the basis of race, despite California's political motivations.
History
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