BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Gerrymandered Maps
Texas GOP’s mid-decade power grab implodes in court.
Well, well, well. Turns out you can only rig democracy so far before a federal court finally says, “Alright, that’s enough, y’all.” This morning, a three-judge panel blocked Texas Republicans from using their brand-new, mid-decade, Trump-ordered gerrymander for the 2026 elections.
After months of Greg Abbott and the Legislature scrambling to tear apart minority districts and squeeze out five more GOP House seats, the courts took one look at the evidence, smelled the racism, and hit the big red “absolutely not” button.
This is a massive blow to Texas Republicans and to Trump’s national scheme to redraw the map wherever he can find a friendly pen.
The state will, of course, sprint to the next Court like a toddler clutching a broken toy, but for now?
The 2025 map is dead. The 2021 map is back. It’s still a shit map, and now we have Republicans on record admitting that the 2021 map was also racist. So, there’s that.
And listen, when the judges themselves write that “substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map,” it means the state didn’t just trip over its own racism; it left a whole breadcrumb trail while bragging about it on Fox News.
Today is a good day for democracy. And a terrible day for Greg Abbott.
From the Texas House Democratic Leaders:
Expect the Republicans to appeal swiftly. Story still unfolding.
Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.
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I believe that S.Ct would have to agree to hear it as an expedited appeal. Meaning they skip the 5th Cir Ct of Appeals. I don't know enough about how this case is postured. Someone needs to ask Mark Elias. His group brought the case.
I heard somewhere a person suggesting that candidates would lose their filing fee if it changes to the original and they filed under the new one. That does not seem right but then laws are not always meant to be right. I think about those that voted for the property relief amendments not thinking about it destroying the public school financing.