A three-judge federal panel has barred Texas from using its newly redrawn congressional district map in the 2026 midterm elections, ruling the plan likely violated the Voting Rights Act by racially gerrymandering districts.
The map, crafted by the Republican-controlled legislature and backed by the governor, sought to create five additional House seats in the state. The court found compelling evidence that race, not just political strategy, was a predominant factor in drawing district boundaries.
As a result of the decision, Texas must revert to the congressional map approved in 2021 while the legal battle unfolds. The state has announced it will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.