Supreme Court allows Texas to use new congressional district map drawn to favor Republicans

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a boost to President Donald Trump by allowing Texas to use a new congressional district map in next year’s midterm elections that was drawn to maximize Republican political power

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a boost to President Donald Trump by allowing Texas to use a new congressional district map in next year’s midterm elections that was drawn to maximize Republican political power.

Granting an emergency application filed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the conservative majority paused a lower court ruling that said the map was unlawful because Republican lawmakers, at the direction of the Trump administration, explicitly considered race when drawing new districts.

The map was drawn with the aim of adding up to five additional Republican House seats, with Republicans currently holding a narrow majority heading into the midterms.

State Rep. Matt Morgan, a Republican from Texas, reviews a map of proposed congressional redistricting, on Aug. 20.Eli Hartman / Bloomberg via Getty Images fileDemocrats had already responded to the Texas plan by launching an effort to draw a new congressional map in California to counteract the potential Republican gains. Litigation in that case could also reach the Supreme Court.

“This map reflects the political climate of our state and is a massive win for Texas and every conservative who is tired of watching the left try to upend the political system with bogus lawsuits,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defended the map, said in a statement.