The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted a district court order that blocked Texas from using its newly enacted congressional map, granting Attorney General Ken Paxton an administrative stay while the state’s appeal proceeds.
In a brief order issued by Justice Samuel Alito, the Court stayed the three-judge panel’s November 18 injunction “pending further order” and directed opponents of the map to file a response by November 24. The stay allows Texas to continue operating under the new map for now, preventing immediate disruption to the 2026 election cycle.
Earlier today, Paxton filed an emergency application with the Court asking it to intervene after a split 2-1 decision from the district court panel. In a statement, Paxton blasted the ruling as an attempt by “radical left-wing activists” to “derail the Republican agenda and steal the U.S. House for Democrats,” adding that Texas had “engaged in partisan redistricting solely to secure more Republican seats in Congress.”
The map, which creates five new GOP-leaning districts, was passed during a special session this summer and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Further action from the Supreme Court is expected after the November 24 response deadline.
