A federal court has delivered a major setback to Texas lawmakers, ruling that the state cannot use the newly drawn 2025 congressional map for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The three-judge panel instead ordered the state to revert to the map approved in 2021, citing significant evidence that the updated boundaries were shaped by unconstitutional racial considerations.

Court Says Evidence of Racial Gerrymandering Is “Substantial”

In a 2–1 decision, the panel concluded that the Legislature’s 2025 mid-cycle redistricting plan likely relied on race when crafting new district boundaries — a violation of constitutional protections, even if partisan strategy was a motivating factor.

Judge Jeffrey Brown, appointed by President Donald Trump, authored the majority opinion. He noted that while political goals played a role, the court found “much more than just politics” influencing the map’s design. According to the ruling, the changes diluted the voting power of minority communities in multiple districts.

The Legislature passed the new map in August 2025, with Republican leaders aiming to expand their 25-seat advantage in Texas’ 38-member congressional delegation. Political analysts projected that the revised districts could have delivered the GOP up to 30 seats.

Sharp Dissent Accuses Majority of Judicial Overreach

Judge Jerry Smith issued a forceful dissent, accusing the majority of stepping far beyond its legal authority. He criticized the ruling as “the most blatant exercise of judicial activism that I have ever witnessed,” arguing that the state acted within its rights to redraw the map and that the court should not have intervened.

State Officials Plan to Appeal

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the state will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. But the timing is tight: candidate filing for the March 2026 primary closes December 8, and a reversal is unlikely before then unless the high court issues an emergency stay.

Governor Greg Abbott has not yet indicated whether the state will request such an expedited review.

Political Fallout Ahead of 2026 Primaries

The court’s order immediately reshapes the political landscape heading into the 2026 election cycle. Candidates who had begun campaigning under the newly drawn 2025 lines must now reassess their strategies. Several Republican hopefuls were preparing for more favorable districts under the revised boundaries, while many Democrats faced steeper challenges.

Reverting to the 2021 map shifts those calculations. Some incumbents may face tougher primaries, while challengers may see renewed opportunities that the 2025 map had diminished.

Election officials across the state must also adjust administrative plans already underway for the new districts.

More Redistricting Battles Expected

The decision marks only the first stage in what is likely to be a prolonged legal fight. Multiple challenges to Texas’ redistricting practices remain pending, including lawsuits targeting state House, state Senate, and State Board of Education maps approved after the 2020 census.

The panel signaled that further rulings may depend on upcoming Supreme Court guidance in related voting-rights cases.

What Happens Next

  • Texas will conduct the 2026 congressional elections using the 2021 map, unless the Supreme Court intervenes.

  • Candidates must file for office based on the older boundaries, adding uncertainty for campaigns already in motion.

  • The state’s appeal could set the stage for a high-profile Supreme Court battle over the limits of partisan and racial gerrymandering.

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