Sonora, CA – Republicans are suing over the passage of Prop 50, and leading the charge is Mother Lode Assemblyman David Tangipa.
Today, they filed a federal lawsuit challenging the redistricting proposition as unconstitutional. Tangipa contends that California failed to meet the Supreme Court test required to justify the creation of Voting Rights Act (VRA) districts.
“This whole process was a sham,” stated Assemblyman Tangipa. ‘With this lawsuit, we will make sure that we expose it and we will hold those accountable. That is what this is about.”
State Republicans offered these issues raised by the suit:
- The state does not have a majority population controlling the electorate, meaning no single minority group meets the legal threshold to necessitate a VRA district.
- Analysis concluded there was no remedy needed for a disadvantaged voting bloc; data show that voters from protected classes are already electing candidates of their choice under existing conditions.
- California cannot satisfy the Supreme Court’s test for VRA districts; the state’s justification for imposing new district boundaries under Proposition 50 fails to meet constitutional standards.
As we reported here, statewide, Prop 50 received just under 64% of voters saying yes, and slightly over 36% said no. Those numbers were flipped by voters in Tuolumne and Calaveras County, opposing the measure that temporarily redistricted Congressional maps for elections in 2026, 2028, and 2030 in reaction to Texas redistricting efforts that increased Republican seats. The Tuolumne County Republican Party issued this statement regarding 50:
“The results of Proposition 50 are disappointing for Republicans and all Californians who value fair and balanced representation. While the measure passed statewide, we are encouraged by the overwhelming opposition it faced here in Tuolumne County, a clear sign that commonsense is still alive and well in our community. For Tuolumne County residents, the new district maps proposed by Proposition 50 do not change our local representation. However, the effects of losing five Republican seats statewide will certainly be felt. These losses underscore the need for continued engagement to ensure that the voices of hardworking rural Californians are not ignored in Sacramento or Washington, D.C. The Tuolumne County Republican Party remains committed to defending local representation, promoting government transparency, and advancing the principles of limited government and individual freedom that reflect the values of Tuolumne County residents.”
Chair of the Tuolumne County Democratic Central Committee, Mat Galvan, also gave a statement:
“Prop 50’s passage shows that Californians are paying attention to what’s happening across the country. We’ve watched states like Texas redraw maps to consolidate power and silence voters. Prop. 50 was never about one district winning or losing. It was about protecting the strength of California’s collective voice in Congress and refusing to let political maneuvering in Washington weaken our representation. Even in counties like Tuolumne that voted against it, you can feel people waking up to what’s at stake.”
The Associated Press is reporting that it is uncertain if a three-judge panel created to consider these types of claims would issue a temporary restraining order before December 19, when candidates may begin gathering voter signatures to reduce the cost of their filing fee.
In a social media post, Newsom’s office shared that the state hasn’t reviewed the lawsuit but is confident the challenge will fail, adding, “Good luck losers.” Tangipa countered with this final message: “As an elected official here in the state of California, I’m appalled by what has happened with what the legislature really pushed through, with what the governor has done to violate and break the constitution. And when I said the fight for California has just begun, I hope everybody and anybody knows I meant that.”
