On November 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary order allowing Texas to proceed with a congressional redistricting plan that was previously blocked by a federal court due to concerns of racial gerrymandering. The order, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, enables Texas to prepare for the 2026 midterm elections under the disputed maps while the court deliberates on the legality of the plan.

The redistricting plan, which has been supported by former President Donald Trump, aims to secure an additional five House seats for Republicans. This decision follows a ruling from a panel of federal judges in El Paso, which found substantial evidence that the new map likely discriminates against Black and Hispanic voters. The judges had mandated that Texas revert to a previous map established in 2021, based on the 2020 census.

The Supreme Court's intervention comes as Texas officials sought to prevent confusion ahead of the congressional primary elections scheduled for March. Historically, the court's conservative majority has intervened in similar cases, often blocking lower court rulings close to election dates, as seen in Alabama and Louisiana.

Texas is not alone in this redistricting trend; states like Missouri and North Carolina have also enacted new maps favoring Republican candidates. In contrast, California voters recently approved a ballot initiative aimed at increasing Democratic representation by five seats. Legal challenges to redrawn maps are currently ongoing in California, Missouri, and North Carolina.

The Supreme Court has requested responses from civil rights advocacy groups challenging the Texas map, with a deadline set for December 1, ahead of the December 8 filing deadline for congressional candidates. Activists in Texas have expressed their commitment to mobilizing voters and countering the perceived manipulation of electoral boundaries, emphasizing grassroots efforts to ensure equitable representation.