US Supreme Court allows Texas to use redrawn district map for 2026 midterms

"The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the southern state of Texas may proceed with using a controversial map of congressional districts designed to favour Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. Thursday's decision was split along ideological lines, with the court's six conservative justices giving the new map the go-ahead and the three liberal ones joining together in dissent."

"The ruling lifts a lower court's order from November that had blocked Texas from using the new congressional map. The lower court had found that Texas had racially gerrymandered the districts, in violation of the US Constitution. But Texas quickly filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, urging quick action to overturn the hold. After all, it argued, campaigning for the midterm races in November 2026 is already under way, and candidates need to understand where their constituents lie."

"In a brief, unsigned order, the conservative majority found that Texas was likely to prevail on the merits of its claims. It also cited court precedent that lower courts should ordinarily not alter the election rules on the eve of an election. Doing otherwise, the order said, would cause irreparable harm to the state. The map in question has set off a nationwide scramble to redesign congressional districts ahead of the all-important midterm races."

United States Supreme Court allowed Texas to proceed with a controversial congressional map designed to favor Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The decision split 6-3 along ideological lines, with conservative justices approving the map and liberal justices dissenting. A lower court had blocked the map in November after finding racial gerrymandering in violation of the US Constitution. Texas filed an emergency appeal, arguing that campaigning for November 2026 races is already underway and candidates need clarity. The Supreme Court's unsigned order said Texas was likely to prevail and cited precedent against altering election rules on the eve of an election. The map has prompted a nationwide scramble to redraw districts and reports say President Donald Trump pressured Texas legislators to adopt a plan that could add five Republican House seats.

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