Supreme Court Revives Texas Redistricting Map Favoring Republicans

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated a redrawn Texas congressional map designed to strengthen Republican control in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The 6-3 conservative majority, including three Trump-appointed justices, lifted a lower court ruling that had blocked the map on grounds of likely racial discrimination. The revised districts — approved by Texas lawmakers and backed by President Donald Trump — could shift up to five Democratic-held seats to Republicans, prompting sharp praise from GOP leaders and condemnation from Democrats.

In its brief order, the Supreme Court said the lower court overstepped by intervening during an active primary cycle and noted that challengers failed to present an alternative map that met Texas’ stated partisan goals. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan dissented, arguing the ruling undermines constitutional protections and forces many Texans into districts drawn with racial considerations. Texas Democrats decried the decision as a blow to voting rights, while Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed it as a victory in the broader partisan battle over electoral boundaries.

The ruling adds fuel to nationwide redistricting clashes, with states such as California, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia advancing or contesting new maps aimed at shifting political power. The Texas case highlights ongoing tensions between partisan gerrymandering — which the Supreme Court has deemed beyond federal court review — and racial gerrymandering, which remains illegal. Civil rights groups warn that the reinstated Texas map disproportionately weakens the influence of Latino and Black voters, even as Republicans argue it reflects the state’s political reality.

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