{"id":2511938,"date":"2025-11-18T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-blocks-new-texas-congressional-map-for-2026-election\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T16:01:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:01:36","slug":"court-blocks-new-texas-congressional-map-for-2026-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-blocks-new-texas-congressional-map-for-2026-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Court blocks new Texas congressional map for 2026 election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcourt-blocks-new-texas-congressional-map-for-2026-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2511938&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal court has blocked Texas from using its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/redistricting-lawsuits-in-15-states-could-reshape-2024-races\/\" title=\"Redistricting Lawsuits in 15 ...s Could Reshape 2024 Races\">newly redrawn congressional map<\/a> for the 2026 midterm elections, ordering the state too use the map from the 2022 and 2024 elections instead. The 2-1 ruling came from a panel of two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ethics-panel-supports-judges-clerk-ban-over-anti-israel-protests-at-columbia-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Ethics panel supports judges\u2019 clerk ban over anti-Israel protests at Columbia - Washington Examiner\">federal district judges<\/a> and one circuit judge,wiht the majority opinion written by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown. The court found the new map likely involved an illegal racial gerrymander, dismantling several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-texas-over-redistricting-claims-it-violates-voting-rights-act\/\" title=\"... sues ... over redistricting, claims it violates Voting Rights Act\">minority-majority districts<\/a> for racial reasons rather than partisan ones.Texas Governor Greg Abbott had directed the legislature to redraw districts to create new majority-Hispanic districts, which the judge viewed as evidence of racial considerations. Texas plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. This ruling occurs as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on another case that could change how racial gerrymandering claims are handled federally. Meanwhile, similar legal challenges continue in other states like California, where the Justice Department is also contesting new district maps. The decision affects the balance of congressional seats, with Republicans losing potential gains in Texas amid an already competitive House majority.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Federal court blocks Texas from using new congressional map for 2026 election<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2406128\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal court blocked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> from using its redrawn congressional map for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-elections\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>, ordering the map used for the 2022 and 2024 elections to be used next November.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387\/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387.1437.0.pdf\">2-1 ruling<\/a> of the panel of two federal district judges and one circuit judge wipes away a map that would have likely given Republicans five additional seats in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\">House of Representatives<\/a>, at least for now. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote the majority opinion, which was joined by U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama, while U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith said he would file a dissenting opinion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3890367\/judge-gives-doj-time-fight-release-james-comey-grand-jury-records\/\">Judge gives DOJ more time to fight release of Comey grand jury records<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3890352\/federal-judge-backs-new-york-law-blocking-immigration-arrests-local-courts\/\">Federal judge backs New York law blocking immigration arrests at local courts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3890184\/fed-lisa-cook-mortgage-fraud-bondi\/\">Fed&#8217;s Cook says there&#8217;s &#8216;nothing whatsoever&#8217; to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-he-just-learned-that-adam-schiff-engaged-in-very-serious-crimes\/\" title=\"Trump Says He Just Learned That Adam Schiff Engaged in ...Very Serious Crimes...\">mortgage fraud allegations<\/a> in letter to Bondi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Brown claimed in his opinion that the case is &ldquo;more than just politics&rdquo; and alleged that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3491672\/texas-redistricting-map-longterm-legal-showdown\/\">Texas&rsquo;s new map<\/a> involved an unlawful racial gerrymander. He pointed to a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a> letter from Assistant Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a>&nbsp;to Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\">Greg Abbott<\/a> (R-TX), which alleged that the map passed in 2021 and used for the 2022 and 2024 elections had four districts that were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. Brown referred to Abbott adding redistricting to the agenda of a special session for state lawmakers, specifically to resolve issues raised in the DOJ letter, as evidence that the map is a racial gerrymander.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[T]he Governor explicitly directed the Legislature to redistrict based on race. In press appearances, the Governor plainly and expressly disavowed any partisan objective and instead repeatedly stated that his goal was to eliminate coalition districts and create new majority-Hispanic districts,&rdquo; Brown, an appointee of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>, wrote.<\/p>\n<p>In his ruling, Brown noted that the new <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >map dismantles multiple minority-majority<\/a>, or &ldquo;coalition districts,&rdquo; and alleged it was done with racial considerations rather than partisan considerations.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The map ultimately passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor&mdash;the 2025 Map&mdash;achieved all but one of the racial objectives that DOJ demanded. The Legislature dismantled and left unrecognizable not only all of the districts DOJ identified in the letter, but also several other &lsquo;coalition districts&rsquo; around the State,&rdquo; Brown said.<\/p>\n<p>Texas is likely to appeal the ruling, which would then send the case to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a>. It is not immediately clear if the new maps could be restored in time for the 2026 elections.<\/p>\n<p>The filing deadline for the 2026 elections in Texas is Dec. 8. Brown rejected the notion that the ruling would be disruptive to next year&rsquo;s election despite the deadlines, instead placing the blame on the legislature for drawing the new maps over the summer.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the coming months that could shake up how racial gerrymandering cases are dealt with in federal court. In a case challenging Louisiana&rsquo;s congressional map, <em>Louisiana v. Callais<\/em>, the Supreme Court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3851141\/brett-kavanaugh-questions-endpoint-race-based-redistricting-voting-rights-act\/\">could strike down<\/a> the current Voting Rights Act precedent, which mandates the creation of minority-majority districts if a minority group is compact geographically and makes up a significant portion of the state&rsquo;s population.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s ruling in <em>Louisiana v. Callais<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3849965\/supreme-court-kickstart-round-of-redistricting-louisiana\/\">could lead<\/a> to another round of mid-decade redistricting in the South, after Texas began the current nationwide race to redistrict with its new map.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, California voters <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3871493\/california-proposition-50-redistricting-result\/\">approved a new map<\/a> that would likely net Democrats five seats. With Texas&rsquo;s new map halted, the GOP is currently at a net loss in this cycle&rsquo;s redistricting battle, especially as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3887895\/indiana-republicans-relent-redistricting-effort\/\">Indiana lawmakers punt<\/a> on trying to draw the GOP up to two new seats and Virginia Democrats, emboldened by this month&rsquo;s elections, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3882760\/louise-lucas-questionabcampaign-funds-family-business-daughters-campaign-steaks\/\">set their sights<\/a> on drawing more Democratic seats.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3886570\/doj-challenges-californias-prop-50-map-in-escalating-fight-over-house-majority\/\">DOJ CHALLENGES CALIFORNIA&rsquo;S PROP 50 MAP IN ESCALATING FIGHT OVER HOUSE MAJORITY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The DOJ has joined a lawsuit aiming to strike down the new California map, which also claims the Golden State&rsquo;s maps represent an unlawful racial gerrymander.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, 219-214, with control of the chamber expected to be hotly contested in next year&rsquo;s elections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal court blocks Texas from using new 2026 map<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2511939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25274099616120.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[45496,33740,16985,62263,32570],"class_list":["post-2511938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2026-election","tag-court-ruling","tag-redistricting","tag-texas-congressional-map","tag-voting-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25274099616120.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2511938"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2511942,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511938\/revisions\/2511942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2511939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2511938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2511938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2511938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}