Lockdown rules imposed by Democrats face legal challenges – including a dozen in California alone - from residents and state officials who claim they are too excessive

• Stay-at-home orders facing legal challenges from residents and state officials 
• Lawsuits allege shops and religious services are being shuttered unnecessarily
• Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the state of California 

Nationwide lockdown measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 are facing legal challenges from residents and state officials who want to see them loosened.

The lawsuits against largely Democratic lawmakers allege that the stay-at-home rules have been taken too far and have even infringed on people's civil liberties such as the right to protest.  

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, admitted that the state was being 'challenged'. 

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Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the state of California, Fox News reports, alleging the state has unjustly shuttered gun shops as well as halted religious services. 

One state resident has alleged that the lockdown measures amount to being held in forced detention without due process. 

'All across this country, every single day, governors are being challenged, local health officials are being challenged, and it's a spirit of collaboration. Those that continue to pursue things that put people in harm's risk, you have to have stepped up efforts and enforcement and sanctions,' Newsom told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. 

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Fremont plant pictured on Wednesday. Tesla founder Elon Musk reopened his company's California branch despite the countywide health order put in place, creating a dispute between Tesla and San Francisco Bay Area authorities

Tesla founder Elon Musk reopened his company's California branch despite the countywide health order put in place, creating a dispute between Tesla and San Francisco Bay Area authorities.

Musk reopened the plant last Monday in defiance of county orders. 

It's unclear if Tesla and Mush would face any punishment for reopening. But in a statement, the Alameda County Public Health Department announced last week that the Fremont plant will be able to go beyond basic operations this week and start making vehicles on Monday - as long as it delivers on worker safety precautions that it agreed to.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing a legal challenge from Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing a challenge from Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature, who on Friday urged a judge to strike down stay-home orders and other restrictions related to the coronavirus. 

They argued Whitmer had trampled their authority in determining statewide emergencies. 

The clash in Michigan is the latest between Democratic governors who have shut down businesses and ordered people to stay home in response to COVID-19 and conservatives who believe the steps are excessive.