The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary order blocking a lower court's ruling that found Texas' 2026 congressional redistricting plan likely discriminates based on race. The decision, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, preserves a map that could give Republicans an advantage in upcoming elections while the high court considers whether to allow its use.
Emergency Appeal and Judicial Intervention
Texas filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking permission to use the congressional redistricting plan that had been advanced during President Donald Trump's administration. The state argued that intervention was necessary to prevent confusion as congressional primary elections approach in March 2026.
The court's conservative majority has previously blocked similar lower-court rulings in redistricting cases, including recent decisions in Alabama and Louisiana, typically when challenges arise close to election dates. Justice Alito, who handles emergency appeals from Texas, signed the order that will remain in effect for at least several days while the court deliberates.
The Contested Redistricting Plan
Texas redrew its congressional map during the summer as part of Trump's efforts to maintain a slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives. The new map was engineered to give Republicans five additional House seats, potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress.
However, a panel of federal judges in El Paso ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that civil rights groups challenging the map on behalf of Black and Hispanic voters were likely to succeed in their case. The judges found substantial evidence that the redistricting plan probably violates voting rights protections.
National Redistricting Battle Intensifies
The Texas case represents just one front in an expanding national battle over redistricting. Texas became the first state to meet Trump's demands for redistricting that would benefit Republican candidates. Missouri and North Carolina subsequently created new maps adding one additional Republican seat each.
In response to these Republican-led efforts, California voters approved a ballot initiative designed to give Democrats five additional seats. Court challenges to the redrawn maps are now pending in California, Missouri, and North Carolina.
The Supreme Court is separately considering a case from Louisiana that could further limit race-based districts under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The outcome of this case might significantly affect how states approach redistricting nationwide.
If the lower court's ruling against Texas ultimately stands, the state could be forced to hold elections using the map drawn by the GOP-controlled Legislature in 2021, which was based on the 2020 census data. The Supreme Court's temporary decision now puts that outcome in doubt while the legal battle continues.
