Breaking: Texas Blocked- No Redrawn Map To Be Used

A federal court panel in El Paso, Texas blocked the state from using a newly redrawn U.S. House map in the 2026 midterm elections. The ruling was 2–1, and the court said there was “substantial evidence” that the map constitutes racial gerrymandering, which violates the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.As a result, Texas must revert to its previous map from 2021 for the next election.

The plaintiffs — civil rights groups representing Black and Hispanic voters — argued that the new map dilutes minority voting power, especially by dismantling “coalition districts” (where no one racial group is a majority but minority groups combined outnumber non-Hispanic whites). The court found that lawmakers intentionally manipulated the district lines with race in mind.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans defended the map, arguing it was purely political, not racial — but the court disagreed. Impact on Party Balance The new map was designed to help Republicans pick up five extra U.S. House seats in Texas. That was part of a broader strategy (associated with former President Trump) to strengthen

Republican control in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Civil rights groups argued the redistricting unfairly weakened the political influence of Black and Hispanic Texans. Specifically, the court pointed to so-called “coalition districts” (areas where minority groups together outnumber non-Hispanic white voters) that were dismantled. The court ruled that this may violate the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. Precedent Around Gerrymandering

While partisan gerrymandering is hard to challenge in federal court (especially after a 2019 Supreme Court ruling), racial gerrymandering remains illegal.

This case could help clarify how courts draw the line between political and racial motives in redistricting.

Timing and Election Logistics- The case was fast-tracked (hearings in El Paso) because of how close it is to key election deadlines. If the injunction holds, it could disrupt candidate filing deadlines, campaign planning, and more.

Key Players

Plaintiffs: Civil rights organizations representing Black and Hispanic Texans. Defendants: Texas Republican leadership (Governor Greg Abbott, state legislature), who argue the map is legal and politically motivated (not racially motivated). Judges: Two sided with blocking the map, one dissented.