Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX) has launched a federal lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber. The suit, filed in the Northern District of Texas on a recent Friday, challenges an upcoming California election measure that Jackson alleges unfairly targets Texas Republicans and threatens to reduce their influence in Congress.
The legal dispute, named the Election Rigging Response Act (ERRA) challenge, seeks both declaratory and injunctive relief. It asserts that California's proposed amendment violates the Elections Clause and the Guarantee Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Jackson's concern revolves around the temporary congressional map included in the measure, which he argues could be manipulated to benefit Democrats at the expense of Republican representation.
“This measure targets Texas citizens and congressional representatives, including myself, with the intent to dilute our political power,” Jackson's lawsuit claims. He warns of potential repercussions on committee assignments and legislative influence for Texas Republicans as a result of the redistricting effort approved by California voters.
The timing of the lawsuit is strategic, coinciding with Texas' mid-decade redistricting, approved by Governor Greg Abbott, which is projected to add five Republican seats in the 2026 congressional elections. Jackson and his legal team are attempting to counteract any indirect influence California's redistricting could have on Texas' political landscape.
California Democrats, however, defend the ERRA, stating its purpose is to accommodate population shifts and uphold voter fairness, denying allegations of political retribution. The case has been assigned to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee known for his conservative leanings. Jackson's choice to file in the Amarillo division was likely a tactical decision, indicative of a broader trend where litigants seek out sympathetic courts.
The lawsuit follows a history of political tension between the two states. It references a campaign by Newsom in 2022, where he bought ad space in Texas newspapers to criticize Abbott's policies on guns and abortion, suggesting a pattern of targeted actions against Texas Republicans.
As the lawsuit progresses, it not only challenges the legality of the ERRA but also highlights a contentious national dialogue on state-led redistricting efforts and partisan conflicts that transcend state borders. With California voters yet to approve the amendment and ongoing litigation against Texas' redistricting map, the issue promises to be a long-drawn battle with implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives and beyond.
