Federal judges block Texas from using ‘gerrymandered’ congressional map

A panel of three federal judges on Tuesday barred Texas from utilizing a brand new congressional map drawn up by Republicans in hopes of giving the get together further seats within the 2026 midterm elections, ruling 2-1 that the map in query seemed to be an unlawful, race-based gerrymander.

“The general public notion of this case is that it’s about politics,” U.S. District Decide Jeffrey V. Brown, a Trump appointee, stated within the majority opinion, joined by U.S. District Decide David Guaderrama, an Obama appointee.

“Definitely, politics performed a task in drawing up the map for 2025,” the judges stated. “However it was way more than simply politics. Substantial proof exhibits that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”

THE SUPREME COURT SIGNALS THAT IT MAY RESTRICT THE IMPORTANT VOTING RIGHTS RULE

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, through the Republican Nationwide Conference (RNC) on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

Decide Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, dissented with out rationalization.

The two-1 ruling comes after an almost two-week trial in El Paso, Texas, and requires lawmakers within the Lone Star State to return to a earlier congressional map the state legislature handed in 2021.

The brand new congressional map in Texas would have redrawn 5 districts within the state to be extra favorable to Republicans.

The ruling is a significant blow to the Trump administration, which has urged Republican-led states to attract new congressional maps as a part of an effort to protect Republican majorities in Congress within the 2026 midterm elections.

JUDGES SAY THEY WILL MAPPING CONGRESSIONAL REDRWA LOUISIANA THEMSELVES IF LAWMATORS CANNOT

President Donald Trump speaks on the White Home. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

It additionally comes as a part of a broader push by the Trump administration on Republican-led states to undertake new redistricting maps in latest months, together with in Missouri and North Carolina.

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It’s unclear whether or not the federal government plans to enchantment the case, though any problem could be despatched on to the Supreme Courtroom for overview.

This can be a growth story. Examine again quickly for updates.