Texas’s brand new congressional map has been blocked by a federal three-judge panel that ruled on Tuesday the state can no longer use the map for 2026.
This ruling represents a major setback to Republicans in Austin, Washington, and elsewhere who were counting on the middecade redistricting, promoted by Donald Trump, in order to secure up 30 of Texas’ 38 House seats, and protect their narrow majority at Congress.
In August of this year, the map was passed by a GOP-led legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott signed the map into law quickly. Civil rights organizations immediately filed suit, claiming that the lawmakers had systematically weakened voting power for black and Hispanic Texans. The groups asked judges in El Paso to put the map on hold until after a trial.
The state does not appear to have a realistic plan for reviving the map by 2026. The voting rights cases are heard by two district and circuit judges, with appeals going directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The decision falls in the middle month-long period of Texas candidate registration for March primaries. The deadline for filing is December 8.
The fight has just begun. The same panel is currently hearing a separate case that targets the 2021 state redistricting plan, which includes legislative and school board seats. This lawsuit was tried earlier in the year. Judges have indicated that they will wait until the Supreme Court makes a decision in a significant voting rights case, before making a final ruling on Texas maps.
Trump’s Republican allies and himself made it a priority to have Texas’s 2026 map ready.
Before the Senate passed the map, Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford) said, “I am convinced that Texas will lose its majority if it does not act.” If it happens, then the country will face nothing but humiliation and inquisitions for the two years following the midterm elections.
