Supreme Court lets Texas use a map a lower court found was likely racially gerrymandered
The mid-decade redraw, pushed by Trump, was built to gain up to five Republican House seats. Texas's attorney general said the point was Republican representation.
Texas redrew its congressional map in the summer of 2025 at Trump's urging, aiming to gain up to five Republican seats. A three-judge federal panel, in a 2-1 opinion written by a Trump-appointed judge, found substantial evidence that the new map was racially gerrymandered and ordered the 2021 lines used instead.
On Dec. 4, 2025, the Supreme Court paused that ruling, allowing the new map in the 2026 midterms. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the three liberal justices, said the court overrode a careful 160-page ruling after a quick look at a paper record. Attorney General Ken Paxton said the order protected Texas's right to draw a map that ensures “we are represented by Republicans.”
The receipts
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Associated Press (via PBS) by Mark Sherman
Supreme Court allows Texas to use redrawn congressional map favorable to GOP in 2026NPR byline on original
Supreme Court lets Texas use gerrymandered map that could give GOP 5 more House seatsThe Guardian (as shared in our notes) byline on original
US Supreme Court and the Texas congressional maps