The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that a lower court ruled likely unconstitutional, clearing the way for boundaries that could help the GOP gain up to five additional U.S.
House seats in the 2026 midterm elections by halting a trial-court order that blocked the map’s use.
The unsigned Supreme Court order paused a ruling from a three-judge federal district court panel that had concluded the Texas map likely violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
The district court had found that the map, approved by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature and signed by the governor, likely diluted the voting power of certain groups of voters.
The Supreme Court’s order allowed state officials to implement the disputed map while litigation continues over the legality of the redistricting plan.
The three-judge district court panel previously determined that evidence presented in the case showed a substantial likelihood that the map discriminated against voters in violation of constitutional protections.
The Supreme Court’s intervention removed the immediate requirement for Texas to redraw its congressional districts before upcoming election deadlines.
Election officials in Texas will now prepare to administer future congressional elections, including the 2026 midterms, based on the approved map unless a subsequent court ruling changes the boundaries.
