Texas asks Supreme Courtroom to overturn blocked congressional redistricting map

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Texas on Friday filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Courtroom after a ruling by a panel of federal judges blocked the state from utilizing its redrawn congressional map, calling it "racially gerrymandered."

Shortly after submitting the petition, Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative keep, briefly placing the decrease panel’s resolution blocking Texas’ new maps on maintain.

The state requested the excessive courtroom for an administrative keep on the decrease courtroom ruling, noting Texas has an "election already in progress," referring to congressional main elections in March.

The Supreme Courtroom most not too long ago blocked decrease courtroom rulings associated to redistricting circumstances in Louisiana and Alabama.

Texas redrew its congressional map final summer season in a President Donald Trump-backed effort that would assist Republicans acquire 5 seats in subsequent yr’s midterms.

REPUBLICANS PUSH BACK OVER 'FALSE ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM' IN BLOCKBUSTER REDISTRICTING FIGHT

Texas on Friday filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Courtroom after a ruling by a panel of federal judges who blocked the state from utilizing its redrawn congressional map, calling it "racially gerrymandered." (Alex Wong/Getty Photos)

U.S. District Decide Jeffrey V. Brown, a Trump appointee, joined by U.S. District Decide David Guaderrama, an Obama appointee, within the majority ruling mentioned, "The general public notion of this case is that it is about politics.

"To make sure, politics performed a task in drawing the 2025 map," the judges mentioned. "But it surely was far more than simply politics. Substantial proof reveals that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map."

Decide Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee and the third of the three-judge panel, dissented with out clarification.

The State Capitol in Austin, Texas (AP Picture/Eric Homosexual, File)

REPUBLICANS PROTEST DOUBLE STANDARD AFTER JUDGES CALL TEXAS REDISTRICTING PLAN ‘RACIALLY GERRYMANDERED’

The ruling was a major blow to the Trump administration. It comes as Trump and his Republican allies have raced to pad the get together's razor-thin Home majority within the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, together with by imploring some states to launch uncommon, mid-decade redistricting efforts.

Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have redrawn their congressional maps as nicely, and different states like Florida and Kansas are weighing comparable efforts.

Democratic states are additionally contemplating redrawing their maps to counteract Republican efforts.

Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton vowed Tuesday to enchantment to the Supreme Courtroom. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Publish by way of Getty Photos)

Most prominently, California voters authorized by a large margin earlier this month a plan to redistrict the state in an effort that would wipe out Texas’ new map.

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Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton vowed on Tuesday to enchantment to the Supreme Courtroom.

"For years, Democrats have engaged in partisan redistricting meant to get rid of Republican illustration," Paxton mentioned. "However when Republicans reply in variety, Democrats depend on false accusations of racism to safe a partisan benefit."