Overview

• A three-judge federal panel in El Paso began an expedited preliminary-injunction hearing Wednesday to decide whether Texas can use its newly redrawn congressional map for 2026.
• Plaintiffs including civil-rights groups argue the map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that dismantles minority influence by eliminating five of nine coalition districts and reducing minority-majority seats from 16 to 14.
• Texas officials deny racial intent and say the lines were drawn for partisan advantage, projecting Republicans would hold about 30 of the state’s 38 U.S. House seats under the plan.
• The dispute follows a July Justice Department letter asserting four existing districts were unconstitutional, which preceded special sessions that produced the August map signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
• With candidate filing set for Nov. 8–Dec. 8, the court is moving quickly, the hearing is expected to last more than a week, and any ruling could be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.