US judges halt Texas redistricting map, order return to 2021 districts

Global Desk A US federal court has stopped Texas from using its new voting maps for the 2026 midterm election. The court said there is evidence the new maps were “racially gerrymandered”. This ruling will probably be appealed to the US Supreme Court. Republicans in Texas redrew the voting maps in the middle of the decade, which is very rare. They did this to increase Republican chances of winning more congressional seats in Washington.This move started a chain reaction, and both Democrat and Republican-led states began redrawing their own maps to help their parties. The court’s 2-1 ruling orders Texas to stop using the new maps and go back to the 2021 maps instead. Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Trump appointee, wrote that people think this is only political, but evidence shows race played a big role, as per the report by BBC. He wrote: “Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map.” Texas voting map changesThe new maps passed in August and signed by the Republican governor created five new Republican-leaning districts. California also redrew its maps this month and created five Democrat-leaning seats. A more detailed ruling said this decision is a major loss for President Donald Trump because it closes a path for Republicans to gain five House seats next year, as per the report by Bloomberg. A panel of federal judges said the Texas plans were likely racially gerrymandered, and they issued a preliminary injunction to block them.Redistricting court fightTexas’ rare mid-decade redistricting set off a “redistricting arms race” among states ahead of next year’s tough midterm elections. This ruling came after a trial in October. The plaintiffs, which include minority and voter rights groups, said the new maps destroyed four minority opportunity districts. Texas denied this and said the maps were drawn only for political gain, not race, as per the report by Bloomberg. The ruling repeats the line: “To be sure, politics played a role … but it was much more than just politics.” The court ordered that next year’s elections must use the 2021 map. The main ruling was written by Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was chosen by Donald Trump, and Judge David Guaderrama agreed with him. Judge Jerry E. Smith, who was chosen by Ronald Reagan, said he will write a different opinion. This ruling came one month after conservative Supreme Court judges suggested they may limit Black or Hispanic voting districts in another case from Louisiana.Live EventsDOJ letter and political debateJustice Brett Kavanaugh and others suggested narrowing the 1965 Voting Rights Act rule about creating heavily minority districts. The Texas case does not involve the Voting Rights Act. Texas lawmakers said they redrew the maps after a July letter from the Justice Department (DOJ) that accused Texas of racial gerrymandering in the 2021 map.At trial, Texas disagreed with the DOJ and insisted the new map was drawn strictly for partisan reasons—which experts say is also likely unconstitutional, but may still win in court. The majority ruling said the DOJ letter focused only on majority-non-White districts and that mentions of majority-White Democrat districts were “conspicuously absent”, as per the report by Bloomberg. Texas’ redraw caused Democratic-led states like California to redraw their maps to add more blue districts. California voters recently approved new maps that could give Democrats up to five more seats in the House next year. The plaintiffs are represented by many law groups, including Brazil & Dunn, Mark P. Gaber PLLC, MALDEF, Elias Law Group LLP, NAACP counsel, and others.FAQsQ1. Why did the court block Texas’ new voting maps?The court blocked the maps because judges said there was strong evidence they were racially gerrymandered.Q2. Which voting maps will Texas use in the next election?Texas must use the older 2021 voting maps because the court stopped the new 2025 maps.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News ontexas redistrictingtexas gerrymanderingtexas mapTexas redistrictingUS Supreme Court appealTexas voting maps (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News ontexas redistrictingtexas gerrymanderingtexas mapTexas redistrictingUS Supreme Court appealTexas voting maps(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless Explore More Stories123