California Republicans File Emergency Lawsuit Over Alleged 30-Day Rule Violation in Redistricting Push

Sacramento, California – Republican Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez announced an emergency lawsuit against the California Legislature, seeking to halt a Democratic-led effort to redraw congressional districts. The lawsuit, filed by Dhillon Law Group, alleges the legislature has failed to adhere to public transparency and notice requirements, specifically circumventing a constitutional mandate for a 30-day review period for new legislation. Sanchez stated in a recent tweet, "We’ve just filed an emergency lawsuit against the CA Legislature to STOP their unconstitutional redistricting power grab. They’ve failed to adhere to public transparency and notice requirements & broken more rules yesterday than I’ve ever seen."

The legal challenge, joined by Senators Tony Strickland and Suzette Martinez Valladares, and Assemblymember Tri Ta, argues that the legislature used a "gut and amend" procedure to bypass the 30-day "in print" rule, which ensures adequate time for public and lawmaker review. Republicans contend this move undermines voter-approved Propositions 11 and 20, which established an independent citizens' redistricting commission to remove political influence from the process. Assemblywoman Sanchez emphasized that the lawsuit is about "respecting the will of the voters who demanded fairness and transparency."

Governor Gavin Newsom and California Democrats initiated the redistricting push to counter similar efforts in Republican-led states like Texas, aiming to potentially add up to five left-leaning congressional seats in California ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats argue that this measure is a necessary response to protect democratic principles against what they describe as "election rigging" by the opposing party. A spokesperson for the Governor's office stated that their recent rally, which drew a separate complaint from Sanchez regarding misuse of taxpayer funds, was an announcement of a "legislative package" and within official duties.

While the "gut and amend" procedure is not uncommon in Sacramento, the lawsuit specifically targets its use to circumvent a constitutional right to public review. The Republican plaintiffs have asked the California Supreme Court to prevent any further action on the redistricting legislation until September 18, allowing the constitutionally mandated 30-day review period to elapse. The outcome of this emergency lawsuit will significantly impact the legislative timeline and the future of congressional district mapping in California.