Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary order on Friday, allowing Texas to implement a newly drawn congressional map that had been blocked by a federal court earlier this week. This decision comes in response to Texas’s request for the Supreme Court to intervene after a panel of federal judges ruled on Tuesday to prohibit the use of the GOP’s newly drawn district lines, which were intended to provide Republicans an advantage in gaining five additional House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
The ruling from the lower court, handled by Judge Jeffrey Brown—who was appointed by former President Donald Trump—determined that Texas had engaged in racial gerrymandering with the newly proposed map. Consequently, the court mandated the use of an older map from 2021.
Alito’s order is an administrative stay, allowing Texas to use its new congressional maps while the Supreme Court examines the case further. The Court has set a deadline for the civil rights advocacy groups that challenged the map to submit their response by 5 p.m. on Monday, ahead of the crucial filing deadline for Texas candidates participating in the March primary on December 8.
The district court’s decision was a significant blow to Trump, who has been actively urging Republicans across the nation to implement new district maps aimed at solidifying their slim House majority. Redistricting generally occurs at the beginning of each decade with the release of new census data, yet Texas’ recent map has ignited a contentious mid-cycle redistricting debate. States like Missouri and North Carolina have also adopted new maps this year, reflecting similar strategies to bolster Republican representation, while Trump continues to pressure lawmakers in Indiana to pursue similar efforts.
Additionally, the Justice Department has entered the fray by joining a Republican-led lawsuit that challenges a Democratic-crafted map in California, which voters approved earlier this month. This ongoing redistricting battle highlights the contentious nature of electoral map drawing in the current political landscape, as both parties vie for control in the House.