Federal court blocks Texas Republicans' redrawn congressional map

A panel of federal judges blocked Texas from using its new congressional map, which Republicans drew earlier this year in an effort to shore up the party's narrow House majority in next year's midterm elections.

A panel of federal judges blocked Texas from using its new congressional map, which Republicans drew earlier this year in an effort to shore up the party's narrow House majority in next year's midterm elections.

The ruling, signed by Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, ordered Texas to use its previous map that was drawn in 2021 instead.

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics. To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map,” Brown wrote in the ruling.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed the map into law this summer, said in a statement the state will "swiftly appeal to the United States Supreme Court," teeing up a legal fight that could decide control of the House.

The court's decision is a major blow for Trump, who called on Texas Republicans to draw a new map that could result in the party gaining up to five seats, triggering a nationwide redistricting battle across the country.