Texas\u2019 newly redrawn Republican-leaning congressional map is back in effect after Justice Samuel Alito temporarily reinstated it while the full Supreme Court reviews whether a lower court correctly struck it down. The map could give Republicans up to five additional House seats in 2026.<\/p>\n
Alito\u2019s order allows Texas officials to continue preparing for primary elections under the GOP-backed boundaries. The move followed the state\u2019s emergency request seeking to revive the map championed by former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Texas appealed a ruling that found the map likely relied on unconstitutional racial considerations. The state\u2019s petition argued the case could influence House control in the next midterm elections, with a long-term ruling favoring Texas making it harder for Democrats to retake the majority.<\/p>\n
Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers said the lower court acted too late, noting that campaigns were already underway. They argued that reverting to old boundaries so close to the election would create chaos for candidates, voters, and officials preparing for the 2026 primary season.<\/p>\n
Judge Jeffrey Brown, who wrote the majority decision blocking the map, countered that the inconvenience of switching maps was outweighed by preventing Texans from living under what he considered an unconstitutional racial gerrymander for two years. Texas disputed that race played any role, saying the motivation was purely political advantage encouraged by Trump.<\/p>\n
Texas also asked the Supreme Court to fully take up the case, though a hearing is unlikely in time to change the coming year\u2019s races. The emergency stay will probably determine which map is used for 2026. Alito, handling emergency matters from the 5th Circuit, signaled urgency by giving challengers until Monday evening to respond.<\/p>\n