On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito gave a temporary green light for Texas to use its newly drawn congressional map. This decision comes after a federal court ruled earlier in the week to block the map, which aims to help Republicans gain five extra House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
The federal court’s ruling, led by Judge Jeffrey Brown, highlighted evidence of racial gerrymandering in Texas’s new district lines. A previous map from 2021 was ordered instead. Alito’s temporary ruling allows Texas to continue with the new map while the Supreme Court reviews the situation.
In a significant twist, the Supreme Court has asked civil rights groups, who opposed the new map, to respond by Monday evening. Candidates in Texas must file their papers by December 8 to participate in the March primary.
This situation marks a setback for Trump, who has been encouraging Republican lawmakers across the country to redraw maps in their favor. Redistricting usually occurs every ten years after the census, but this year several states, including Missouri and North Carolina, are also engaging in mid-cycle redistricting to strengthen Republican positions.
Interestingly, public sentiment around gerrymandering is changing. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that 62% of Americans believe political boundaries should be drawn without favoritism towards any party. With growing awareness, the challenges to these maps might gain traction beyond just the courtroom.
For transparency and clarity on this complex issue, you can read more about the implications of gerrymandering on democracy at The Brennan Center for Justice.
