Texas Congressional Map Blocked: Racial Gerrymandering Allegations Spark Federal Court Ruling
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A federal court has dealt a significant blow to Texas Republicans, blocking the state's newly redrawn congressional map from being used in the 2026 midterm elections. The 2-1 decision by a three-judge panel found substantial evidence that the map was racially motivated and violated both the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. The court's ruling forces Texas to revert to 2021 district boundaries. The controversy centers around allegations of racial gerrymandering, with civil-rights groups accusing Texas Republicans of diluting the voting power of Black and Hispanic communities. The court's majority opinion noted that while politics played a role, the evidence also showed that race was explicitly used in crafting the districts. A Trump-appointed judge, Jeffrey V. Brown, wrote that statements by Texas officials revealed they intentionally manipulated district lines to reduce influence in majority-minority areas. The case highlights 'coalition districts' where no single minority group is the majority, but combined minority populations can sway outcomes. Republicans argue that partisan map-making is legal and that the ruling undermines the authority of the Texas Legislature. Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Attorney General Ken Paxton is confident of a favorable outcome. The case is a significant setback for Texas Republicans, who had pushed for mid-decade redistricting to flip up to five Democratic-held U.S. House seats.
