A federal court on Tuesday blocked Texas from using its newly drawn congressional map in the 2026 midterms, ruling the GOP-backed plan is likely an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The decision is a major blow to President Donald Trump and Texas Republicans, who sought to add as many as five new GOP-leaning seats as part of a nationwide redistricting push.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown — a Trump appointee — wrote that challengers are “likely to prove” the 2025 map was racially gerrymandered.
The three-judge panel ruled 2–1, with one Reagan-appointed judge dissenting. The court ordered Texas to revert to its post-2020 census map.
Texas Democrats, who previously fled the state to delay the map’s passage, celebrated the ruling. State Rep. Gene Wu called it a victory against “one of the most brazen attempts to steal our democracy.” Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet commented. The state is expected to appeal.
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TIPP Staff
