The decision, taken by two votes in favor and one against, concludes that the redistribution of electoral districts was made based on racial criteria, violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.
A panel of three US federal judges ruled Tuesday that the state of Texas will not be able to use a new electoral map that would give the Republican Party up to five more seats in the House of Representatives.
The decision represents a setback for President Donald Trump’s efforts in getting Republican congressmen from several states to redraw congressional districts to help the party preserve its slim majority in the lower house of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
According to the court decision, the redefinition of electoral districts was carried out based on racial criteria, violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution.
“The public perception of this case is that it is about politics. Without a doubt, politics played a role in the creation of the 2025 map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas manipulated the 2025 map based on racial criteria”, say the judges.
The complaint had been filed by a coalition of civil rights groupswho represent black and Hispanic voters, and argued that the map reduced the electoral influence of racial minorities.
Com two votes in favor and one againstthe decision follows a nearly two-week trial in El Paso, Texas.
It is expected that the state, republican majorityappeal directly to the Supreme Court, based on a federal law that deals with lawsuits over the redistribution of electoral districts.
Driven by Trump, the review of electoral maps began before the summer in Texas and quickly extended.
