A federal court blocked Texas from using its newly drawn congressional map in 2026, concluding that state lawmakers likely relied on race rather than politics when they redrew district lines at the urging of President Donald Trump.

In a 2–1 ruling on Tuesday, judges ordered Texas to revert to the congressional boundaries that were in place for the last two election cycles. This decision could be a major setback for Republicans who hoped the new map would give them as many as five additional House seats in next year’s midterms.

Writing for the majority, Judge Jeffrey Brown said the evidence showed the decision went beyond partisan gerrymandering.

“To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map,” Brown wrote. “But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows

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