A panel of federal judges in Texas has blocked the state’s newly drawn congressional map from being used in the 2026 midterms, calling it a likely racial gerrymander. The ruling is a major setback for Republicans, who designed the map to gain several new House seats.
In a two to one decision, the judges ordered Texas to return to the previous congressional lines instead of the GOP’s updated version. The new map had been expected to give Republicans as many as five additional seats.
Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote that many people may view the case as purely political, but the evidence showed more than political maneuvering. He said the record strongly suggests that race played a central role in how the 2025 map was drawn.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded immediately and promised to take the fight to the Supreme Court. He said the ruling undermines the authority of the state legislature and imposes a map created by judges rather than elected officials.
Judge Brown, who was appointed by former President Trump, was joined by Judge David Guaderrama, an appointee of former President Obama. The dissent came from Judge Jerry Smith, an appointee of former President Reagan, although his written opinion was not available on the public docket.
The ruling is a significant defeat for Republicans, who began redrawing the Texas map earlier this year as part of a broader national effort to adjust congressional lines. The move triggered a wave of competing map proposals across the country, including an aggressive countermap from California Democrats.
With Republicans facing a difficult midterm climate, national GOP leaders, including Trump and the White House, have pushed for new maps that could expand the party’s footprint. Texas was the first state where Republicans were able to approve a new map ahead of 2026, and similar efforts have moved forward in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Those states also face ongoing legal challenges.
Democrats quickly celebrated the Texas decision. Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu called it a rejection of what he described as an attempt to undermine voters in service of Trump. He said Republicans tried to silence communities but ended up gaining nothing.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also praised the ruling, calling it a victory for voters across Texas, particularly Black and Hispanic communities.
The Texas lawsuit was brought by several voters, civil rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Texas NAACP, Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. Al Green. Their case centered on claims of racial gerrymandering and vote dilution in districts around Houston, Dallas, the Interstate 35 corridor and the Gulf Coast.
Their argument relied heavily on a letter the Trump-era Justice Department sent to Texas earlier this year. The letter argued that several majority-minority districts were drawn in unconstitutional ways and urged the state to adjust their racial makeup. The judges said the Texas legislature quickly complied and reshaped the contested districts to match the Justice Department’s expectations.
Brown wrote that the final map achieved nearly all of the racial changes the DOJ requested and significantly dismantled several minority coalition districts across the state.
The timing of the ruling is particularly challenging for Republicans. The party has been pressuring Indiana lawmakers to pursue an aggressive nine to zero GOP map, but state leaders say they lack the votes to move forward. Trump and his allies have warned that reluctant lawmakers may face primary challenges and have invited a group of them to the White House to push the issue.
The redistricting effort has also stalled in Kansas, although some GOP leaders may revisit the proposal during the next legislative session.
Meanwhile, Democrats have secured several wins. California approved a map that could give Democrats up to five new seats, and a Utah judge recently selected a map expected to benefit Democrats as well. Virginia Democrats may add more seats before 2026 as their process continues.