WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a boost to President Donald Trump by allowing Texas to use a new congressional district map in next year’s midterm elections that was drawn to maximize Republican political power.

Granting an emergency application filed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the conservative majority paused a lower court ruling that said the map was unlawful because Republican lawmakers, at the direction of the Trump administration, explicitly considered race when drawing new districts.

The map was drawn with the aim of adding up to five additional Republican House seats, with Republicans currently holding a narrow majority heading into the midterms.

State Rep. Matt Morgan, a Republican from Texas, reviews a map of proposed congressional redistricting, on Aug. 20.

See Full Page