Supreme Court Allows Texas to Proceed with New Congressional Map for 2026 Midterm Elections
The Supreme Court has allowed Texas to use a newly redrawn congressional map for the upcoming mid-decade elections. The decision was made in response to an emergency request from Texas, permitting them to proceed despite ongoing legal challenges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the ruling on social media, stating that federal courts should not interfere with state decisions regarding redistricting, especially when such changes are driven by partisan motives. She congratulated her Solicitor General John Sauer, acknowledging his role in supporting Texas’s case effectively.
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, took issue with this stance on social media. He questioned whether Attorney General Bondi would withdraw the lawsuit against California’s redistricting plan, which was blocked by lower courts as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), led by Harmeet Dhillon, filed a lawsuit challenging California’s new redistricting map. The suit claims it violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause due to alleged racial gerrymandering, though such arguments are often scrutinized for their partisan intent.
Samuel Alito dissented from this viewpoint, writing in his opinion that it was clear Texas and California were both acting on political grounds. He emphasized that “the impetus” behind both maps was partisan advantage.
This decision highlights the contentious nature of redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump has long advocated for states to redraw their congressional districts now, urging Republican-led states like Texas to do so in an effort to maintain political advantages heading into midterms.
Other Republican states are also considering similar actions: besides Texas, several others including Missouri have already approved new maps or opened special sessions. Democratic states, on the other hand, are preparing counter-strategies aimed at mitigating potential gains for the opposition party.
