A federal three-judge panel in El Paso has halted Texas’ redistricting plan, seeking to redraw congressional district maps. The El Paso court cited evidence that the updated lines were gerrymandered to allegedly target and weaken minority voting blocs.
In a 2-1 vote, the judges filed an injunction to temporarily prevent the redistricted maps from going into effect before the 2026 midterm elections. The new districts would have afforded Texas Republican an additional advantage with five new winnable seats.
The decision was made following a 10-day period in October of testimony and arguments over the map’s legality. Earlier this year, President Trump addressed Texas among other legislatures across the nation in a bid to strengthen GOP congressional seats.
Texas officials have responded that they will appeal the ruling with the Supreme Court and ratify the new maps in time for the upcoming election cycle. Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have pushed back against the allegations implicit in the ruling, stating the maps were drawn to reflect the will of the state’s voting base and were not racially motivated.
With candidates poised to declare their candidacy for congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections by Dec. 8, the Supreme Court will have a short dead to act on the lawsuit.
Photo by Alex Kviatkouski from Pexels
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