The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Texas to move ahead with its newly redrawn congressional districts for the 2026 midterm elections, a decision that is expected to strengthen the Republican Party’s position in the House as the revised map adds five districts that are likely to favour the party.
The order pauses an earlier ruling from a lower court that had held the map relied improperly on race, with the Supreme Court’s conservative majority stating that Texas required clarity as the election cycle approaches.
In the brief order, Justice Samuel Alito said the state required clarity ahead of the election cycle, while the court’s three liberal justices dissented and said the map had been drawn in a way that intentionally split voters on racial lines.
Although the decision is temporary, it ensures that the new districts will be used in 2026 and has already encouraged similar redistricting efforts in other states as parties prepare for contests that could determine control of the House.
INPUTS: PIB SHABDH
