Conservative Judges of Supreme Court Reinstate Gerrymandered House Maps in Texas

On Thursday evening, the Supreme Court temporarily halted a lower courts decision that had blocked Texas heavily gerrymandered congressional maps. These maps, designed under guidance from the Trump administration, were intended to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House in 2026.

In its brief order, the Court cited timing concerns, noting that the District Court acted too close to the midterm elections. Justice Sam Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, issued a short concurrence emphasizing the partisan nature of the maps. Meanwhile, the Courts liberal justices wrote a lengthy dissent, highlighting the potential racial motivations behind the redistricting.

With filing deadlines approaching, the decision means the newly drawn maps will likely govern the Texas midterm elections. Texas became the first red state to comply with the Trump administrations push for mid-cycle redistricting in Republican-led legislatures, setting off a chain reaction among Democratic-controlled states to counteract similar efforts.

Earlier this year, the administration urged Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts, a plan expected to flip five seats currently held by Democrats. Governor Greg Abbott quickly signed legislation implementing these Republican-favoring maps for 2026.

The legal debate focused on whether the maps were drawn for partisan advantage, which the Supreme Court permits, or for racial reasons, which remain constitutionally prohibited. The District Court found the Texas maps were racially motivated, citing evidence including a letter from the Trump Department of Justice directing changes based solely on voters racial composition. Alitos concurrence dismissed these concerns, framing the map purely as a partisan tool. Justice Elena Kagan, in dissent, criticized the majority for ignoring the racial gerrymandering question entirely.

The new Texas maps could result in five additional Republican seats in the House. In response, California Democrats, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, passed Proposition 50 to temporarily bypass the states independent map commission, aiming to redraw districts in swing and Republican-leaning areas. This move is expected to flip five Republican-held seats to Democrats, countering efforts similar to Texas redistricting.

Despite early successes in Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri, Trump-era redistricting efforts have faced setbacks elsewhere. Kansas Republicans, for instance, lacked the votes to approve new maps, while a Utah judge rejected a plan favoring Republicans. In Indiana, the fate of gerrymandered maps is uncertain pending the state Senates December 8 session, as Republican leaders have faced pressure from the administration for months.

This story is developing and may be updated as new information emerges. A previous report misstated the alignment of justices in Thursday nights order; while three conservatives concurred and three liberals dissented, the positions of the remaining justices are unclear.

Author: Olivia Parker