In information that may be filed below “disappointing, however not stunning,” the Supreme Court docket issued a 6-3 ruling permitting Texas to make use of its just lately redistricted map within the 2026 midterms.
In keeping with CBS Information, the ruling got here after a panel of federal judges struck down the map final month. Within the unique ruling, the judges discovered the map unconstitutional, believing it was racially gerrymandered. In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court docket stated it “has repeatedly emphasised that decrease federal courts ought to ordinarily not alter the election guidelines on the eve of an election,” and the district court docket “violated that rule right here.”
“The District Court docket improperly inserted itself into an energetic major marketing campaign, inflicting a lot confusion and upsetting the fragile federal-state steadiness in elections,” the order continued.
So the Supreme Court docket’s logic boils right down to “it doesn’t matter if it’s improper, they already did it, so simply settle for it.”
Supreme Court docket Justice Elena Kagan pushed again in opposition to the ruling in a written dissent. “The court docket issued a 160-page opinion recounting intimately its factual findings. But this Court docket reverses that judgment primarily based on its perusal, over a vacation weekend, of a chilly paper report.” Kagan wrote. “We’re a better court docket than the District Court docket, however we aren’t a greater one on the subject of making such a fact-based determination,” she added.
“We received! Texas is formally—and legally—extra pink,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott stated in an announcement celebrating the ruling. “The brand new congressional districts higher align our illustration in Washington D.C. with the values of our state,” Abbott added. “This can be a victory for Texas voters, for frequent sense, and for the U.S. Structure.”
I dislike this man a lot that I used to be briefly involved it made me an ableist, till realizing it simply makes me an equal-opportunity hater. What’s extra progressive than that?
Texas Democrats have been far much less celebratory of the ruling, and for good cause. Over the summer season, Texas Democrats used each measure at their disposal to dam the Texas redistricting effort. They filibustered, fled the state to interrupt quorum, and their efforts even resulted in state Rep. Nicole Collier being held as a political prisoner on the Home ground.
“The Supreme Court docket failed Texas voters at present, and so they failed American democracy. That is what the top of the Voting Rights Act appears like: courts that received’t defend minority communities even when the proof is staring them within the face,” Texas state Home Democratic Chief Rep. Gene Wu stated in an announcement.
The Texas map triggered a nationwide redistricting battle. In July, Abbott known as a particular session targeted on redistricting on the request of President Donald Trump. The GOP controls the Home by a slender margin, with Democrats solely needing a web achieve of three seats to flip management throughout subsequent yr’s midterms. The Texas state legislature finally handed a map that added 5 new districts that favor Republicans.
Whereas the Supreme Court docket is permitting Texas to make the most of its redistricted map, the positive aspects made inside it have largely been neutralized by California’s redistricting effort. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was the primary Democratic chief to throw a counterpunch when he introduced the “Election Rigging Response Act” in August. That transfer triggered a particular election final month targeted solely on Prop 50, which transfers management of the state’s congressional maps from an unbiased redistricting committee to the state legislature by the top of the last decade. California voters overwhelmingly permitted the measure, and Newsom intends to implement a map that immediately cancels out the positive aspects made in Texas.
Virginia’s Democrat-led Normal Meeting additionally introduced a shock redistricting effort final month that goals to create two to 3 extra seats within the Home, with Chicago and Maryland additionally contemplating redrawing their maps.
So whereas the Supreme Court docket’s ruling undeniably sucks for Democratic voters in Texas, the electoral math for flipping management of the Home continues to be moderately shut.
SEE ALSO:
President Trump Eyes Florida And Indiana In Redistricting Push
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Indicators Invoice Launching Redistricting Effort
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe Units Particular Session For Redistricting
Texas Democrats Will Return To State After Particular Session Ends
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom Counters Texas Redistricting Effort With One Of His Personal
Redistricting: Majority Black Voting Maps Rejected In Louisiana
Critics Name Texas Governor’s New Congressional Map Gerrymandering
US Senator John Cornyn, FBI Crew Up To Hunt Texas Democrats
Texas State Dems Break Quorum To Forestall Redistricting Vote
Gov. Greg Abbott Orders Arrest Of Texas Democrats
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sues To Take away Democratic Rep In Redistricting Struggle
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