Late Thursday afternoon, U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay allowing Texas’ new Republican-drawn “Big Beautiful Map” of congressional districts to remain in place for the 2026 elections while litigation continues.
The new map, drawn by lawmakers in special sessions this summer, took five Democrat districts and turned them into GOP-opportunity seats.
A three-judge federal panel had previously enjoined the map after lawsuits from left-wing groups sought to block its use and force a return to previous boundary lines. Paxton appealed that ruling, arguing the injunction would disrupt Texas’ election calendar and interfere with the state’s constitutional authority to draw its own districts.
By granting Paxton’s request in a 6-3 decision, the high court has paused the lower court’s order and cleared the way for Texas to conduct upcoming congressional races under the map passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott this year.
Paxton framed the outcome as a blow to Democrats’ efforts to “steal the U.S. House” through the courts and a “massive win for Texas and every conservative” as he pledged to keep defending the map against ongoing challenges.
“Texas is paving the way as we take our country back, district by district, state by state,” said Paxton. “This map reflects the political climate of our state and is a massive win for Texas and every conservative who is tired of watching the left try to upend the political system with bogus lawsuits.”
Abbott praised the ruling, stating, “We won! Texas is officially—and legally—more red. The U.S. Supreme Court restored the redistricting maps passed by Texas that were based on constitutional principles and Supreme Court precedent. The new congressional districts better align our representation in Washington D.C. with the values of our state. This is a victory for Texas voters, for common sense, and for the U.S. Constitution.”
