Federal Judges Block Texas GOP’s Redistricting Plan Ahead Of 2026 Midterms

In a blow to Republican efforts to secure a lasting House majority, a panel of federal judges on Tuesday blocked Texas from using a new congressional map pushed by GOP lawmakers and supported by the Trump administration. The court ruled 2-1 that the map constituted an illegal, race-based gerrymander.

The ruling follows a nearly two-week trial in El Paso and forces the Texas legislature to revert to the 2021 congressional map a significant setback for Republicans just as the 2026 midterms loom.

“Politics played a role in drawing the 2025 map,” the court stated, “but it was much more than just politics.”

The majority opinion was authored by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, a Trump appointee, and joined by Obama-appointed Judge David Guaderrama. They concluded that the state’s redistricting efforts discriminated on the basis of race, not just partisan strategy.

Judge Jerry Smith, appointed by President Reagan, dissented without issuing an opinion.

The blocked map would have redrawn five districts to tilt more heavily toward Republican candidates part of a broader effort by Trump allies to shore up GOP control of the House, where the party holds a razor-thin majority. Similar mid-decade redistricting pushes are underway or being considered in Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, and Kansas.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court and seek an emergency stay. He slammed the decision, accusing Democrats of using accusations of racism as a partisan tool.

“For years, Democrats have engaged in partisan redistricting intended to eliminate Republican representation,” Paxton said. “When Republicans respond in kind, Democrats rely on false accusations of racism.”

Governor Greg Abbott echoed that criticism, calling the ruling “absurd” and asserting that Texas Republicans redrew the maps simply to reflect the state’s conservative voting base.

But for Democrats, the ruling is a major win. DNC officials praised the court for halting what they described as a blatant attempt to rig future elections.

Here’s what’s at stake:

• The blocked map would have strengthened GOP control in at least five key districts.

• Trump has publicly demanded Republicans “keep the majority at all costs” ahead of 2026.

• A Supreme Court showdown is now likely, as states and the federal judiciary clash over the role of race in redistricting.

Democrats are desperate to re-create their 2018 House victory, while Trump and GOP leaders are laser-focused on avoiding a repeat of that midterm wipeout. But the federal bench is proving to be an obstacle, especially as judges scrutinize maps that dilute minority voting power a key component in many Democrat-leaning districts.

At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering Louisiana v. Callais, a separate case that could weaken major provisions of the Voting Rights Act. If the Court rules in favor of states, it could open the door for Texas and others to resurrect similar maps with fewer legal hurdles.

For now, Texas Republicans are forced back to the drawing board literally as Democrats celebrate a temporary reprieve in their fight for “fair maps.” But with legal appeals pending and the Supreme Court watching closely, the redistricting battle is far from over.

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