The US Supreme Court's 6-3 decision on Monday restored a Republican-drawn Texas congressional map that could hand the GOP up to five House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The map, approved by the Republican-led Texas legislature in August 2025 and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, had been blocked by a lower court as likely racially discriminatory. Civil-rights groups and state officials say the redraw could shift as many as five Democratic-held districts to Republican control.

What the court decided

  • The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling lifted a lower-court injunction that had prohibited the Republican-drawn map on grounds it was likely racially discriminatory.
  • The redrawn map was approved by the Texas legislature in August 2025 and signed by Governor Greg Abbott; it was publicly backed by Donald Trump, who urged redraws to strengthen the GOP ahead of the midterms.
  • The change comes weeks before candidate filing and the start of formal campaigning; state officials and voting-rights advocates say up to five Democratic-held districts could shift to Republican control under the new lines.

Response from civil-rights groups

Civil-rights advocates reacted sharply to the ruling. Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said: "This was an intentional effort to limit the power of Black people and other people of colour."

Hewitt added: "This ruling doesn't erase the facts. Texas dismantled majority-minority congressional districts after the Trump administration urged the state to do exactly that. The result is a rigged map that limits the power of voters of colour in a state with a long record of voter suppression." Those comments reflect the lower court's concerns that the map would dilute minority voting strength by breaking up districts where Black and other communities of colour had been able to elect their chosen candidates.

Nationwide redistricting fight

  • Republican governors and legislatures in other states are also pursuing redraws intended to shift more seats to the GOP, while Democrats and civil-rights groups are mounting legal challenges.
  • In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday proposed a congressional map that would likely increase Republican-held seats to 24 of the state's 28 districts from a current 20-8 split. He called a special legislative session to consider the plan; backers cite population changes, while opponents call it partisan.
  • In Virginia, voters last week approved a Democratic-backed map targeting several Republican incumbents; multiple lawsuits have been filed and the Virginia Supreme Court heard arguments in one challenge on Monday.

Why the ruling matters for control of Congress

The composition of the House of Representatives determines which party sets the legislative agenda, controls committee chairs and oversees the executive branch. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority, and the Texas map's likely seat flips would make it easier for the party to retain control.

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With candidate filing and the start of formal campaigning only weeks away, Republicans can afford to lose just two House seats in November to retain their majority.

This article was created with AI assistance.