Texas asks Supreme Court to overturn blocked congressional redistricting map

Texas on Friday filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court following a ruling by a panel of federal judges that blocked the state from using its redrawn congressional map, calling it “racially gerrymandered.”

Shortly after the petition was filed, Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay, temporarily suspending the lower panel’s decision to block new Texas maps.

The state asked the Supreme Court for an administrative stay on the lower court’s ruling, noting that Texas has “an election already underway,” referring to the March congressional primaries.

The Supreme Court recently blocked lower court rulings related to redistricting cases in Louisiana and Alabama.

Texas redrew its congressional map last summer in an effort backed by President Donald Trump that could help Republicans pick up five seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Republicans push back on ‘false accusations of racism’ in redistricting battle

“The public perception of this case is that it is about politics,” said U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, a Trump appointee, joined by U.S. District Judge David Guaderama, an Obama appointee, in the majority ruling.

“Politics certainly played a role in drawing the 2025 map,” the judges said. “But it was more than just politics. There is strong evidence showing that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”

Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee and the third on the three-judge panel, dissented without explanation.

The State Capitol building in Austin, Texas is shown. (AP Photo/Eric Jay, File)

Republicans protest double standards after judges call Texas redistricting plan ‘racially gerrymandered’

The ruling was a major blow to the Trump administration. It comes as Trump and his Republican allies race to corral the party’s slim majority in the House of Representatives in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections — including by appealing to some states to launch rare redistricting efforts in the middle of the decade.

Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have also redrawn their congressional maps, and other states like Florida and Kansas are considering similar efforts.

Democratic states are also considering redrawing their maps to counter Republican efforts.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed Tuesday to appeal to the Supreme Court. (Jahi Chikwendeo/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Most notably, California voters narrowly approved earlier this month a plan to redistrict the state in an effort that could wipe out Texas’ new map.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed Tuesday to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“For years, Democrats have engaged in partisan redistricting aimed at eliminating Republican representation,” Paxton said. “But when Republicans respond in kind, Democrats rely on false accusations of racism to ensure a partisan advantage.”