Overview
- In a 6-3 unsigned order, the Court paused a lower-court injunction and replaced Justice Samuel Alito’s earlier administrative stay, allowing Texas to use its 2025 map next year.
- The district court had found the plan likely unconstitutional as a racial gerrymander, citing a DOJ letter and lawmakers’ statements, but the justices faulted the panel for discounting the presumption of legislative good faith.
- Texas argued the redraw was driven by partisan goals, a claim echoed in a concurrence by Justice Alito, while Justice Elena Kagan dissented, saying the lower court conducted a thorough nine-day hearing.
- The map is projected to put up to five currently Democratic-held House seats in play for Republicans as candidate filing approaches on December 8 with March primaries to follow.
- The ruling lands during a broader mid-decade remapping fight, with new maps advancing in states such as California, North Carolina and Missouri, and a pending Louisiana case that could reshape race-based redistricting law.