(Washington) The United States Supreme Court on Friday suspended the blockage of electoral redistricting in Texas, giving a boost to Republicans in their attempt to win congressional seats in Washington during the 2026 midterm elections.
The state of Texas asked the highest American court, with a conservative majority, to allow it to use a new electoral map, triggering a few hours later the freezing of a decision taken Tuesday by a federal court, in order to give judges time to examine the case.
Known as an “administrative stay,” the order was granted by Justice Samuel Alito, who asked opponents to file a response to Texas’ motion by Monday afternoon.
On November 18, a federal court rejected Texas’ new electoral map, finding that it constituted a case of racial “gerrymandering”, consisting of moving the boundaries of constituencies according to the interests of the ruling party in each state.
President Donald Trump has in recent months asked several Republican states to redefine their electoral districts to consolidate their party’s thin margin in the House of Representatives of Congress in Washington (219 seats against 214 for the Democrats).
The rush to redraw electoral districts in order to secure new parliamentary seats reflects the intense battle between Democrats and Republicans in the country.
The Democrats had a text approved in November by referendum intended to give them five additional seats for California, the most populous state in the country, which they largely dominate.
Redistricting efforts are underway or under consideration in other states.
Texas’ new map was contested by black and Hispanic voters in this huge, Republican-led southern state.
In its ruling, a local court ordered Texas to use the 2021 map for the November 2026 midterm legislative elections.
