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Texas officials have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a newly drawn congressional map crafted to strengthen Republican gains in the 2026 midterm elections. The map, approved by the Republican-led legislature in August with support from President Donald Trump, was blocked by a lower federal court that ruled it likely constituted unlawful racial gerrymandering.
In their emergency appeal, Texas officials argued that the lower court misinterpreted the law and created confusion during the crucial candidate filing period. Attorneys for state Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasized that the legislature engaged in normal political decision-making, rejecting the notion that race was a driving factor in reshaping the districts. The Supreme Court has ordered challengers to respond to Texas’ request by Monday.
The blocked map was expected to shift as many as five U.S. House seats from Democrats to Republicans, bolstering the GOP’s slim congressional majority. The move sparked nationwide battles over redistricting, with states like California also redrawing districts to strengthen their own partisan advantage.
Although the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering claims cannot be challenged in federal court, racial gerrymandering remains unconstitutional under the 14th and 15th Amendments. Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, argued that the Texas map disproportionately diluted minority voting power. Judge Jeffrey Brown concluded that the map was influenced by racial considerations, citing a Justice Department letter that pushed Texas to adjust districts based on voter demographics.
The court ordered Texas to revert to its 2021 map for the 2026 elections, dealing a setback to Trump’s broader national push for Republican-led redistricting efforts. The decision has national implications, affecting political strategies in states such as Indiana, California, and Virginia.
The Supreme Court, holding a 6–3 conservative majority, is already hearing another major redistricting case this term, signaling the continued significance of voting rights and electoral map disputes heading into future elections.
