The Supreme Court’s decision allows Texas’ GOP-favored congressional maps for 2026, prompting reaction from politicians.
TEXAS, USA — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Texas will be allowed to use congressional maps that are favorable to Republicans in 2026.
The ruling will allow next year’s elections to be held under the redistricted maps that were approved by Gov. Greg Abbott in August.
The new congressional districts, which President Donald Trump pushed for, have been under fire from the start. The new districts were drawn to give the GOP five additional House seats. The redistricting proposal in the Texas House prompted Democratic lawmakers to break quorum by leaving the state.
Despite a lower court throwing the maps out on the basis that they likely discriminated based on race, the Supreme Court decision puts them back in play for the 2026 elections — at least until the justices make a final decision.
In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are reacting across the Lone Star State. Here’s what they’re saying.
Gov. Greg Abbott:
“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.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton:
“In the face of Democrats’ attempt to abuse the judicial system to steal the U.S. House, I have defended Texas’s fundamental right to draw a map that ensures we are represented by Republicans. The Big Beautiful Map will be in effect for 2026. Texas is paving the way as we take our country back, district by district, state by state. 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.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick:
Texas Democrats:
“When Donald Trump sends a ruling to his Supreme Court, they usually rule in his favor. Texas Democrats have already stepped up to run in these newly drawn districts, and they haven’t changed their minds. We still believe that voters should pick their politicians; politicians don’t get to pick their voters. Texas Democrats are going to organize and fight like hell to keep this principle and fight this disastrous agenda. Republicans and their courts won’t stop until we have a U.S. Congress that’s whiter than before Reconstruction. Every state in the country is going to draw black people out of their districts as a result of this ruling. Greg Abbott and his D.C. sugar daddy may have won in court, but I guarantee they will lose at the ballot box.”
Collin Allred:
“As a voting rights lawyer, I’ve spent my career fighting to make sure every Texan has an equal voice. Today’s decision is a setback for representation and for every Texan who believes their vote should count just as much as anyone else’s. These maps were drawn behind closed doors to protect politicians, not to serve the people. They silence communities of color, dilute working Texans’ power, and make it harder for voters to hold their leaders accountable.
“For years, Gov. Abbott and Donald Trump have tried to rig the rules and silence Texans to preserve their own power, all while John Cornyn and Ken Paxton went along with it. Today, the highest court in the land failed the American people.
“I’ve always believed Texans should choose their leaders — not the other way around. Even if the courts won’t act, I will keep fighting to make sure every Texan’s voice is heard and every community is represented. We can’t give up on the promise of democracy — we have to organize, vote, and demand better. This fight isn’t over.”
State Rep. Ann Johnson
“The Supreme Court failed this country.
“A bipartisan panel led by a Trump-appointed federal judge found substantial evidence that Texas Republicans racially gerrymandered the state’s congressional maps, a finding rooted in clear precedent and hours of testimony. Instead of upholding that ruling, the Supreme Court abandoned its duty to the Constitution, choosing loyalty to Trump in the same way Texas Republicans have.
“Their refusal to act tells states they can violate your rights so long as it helps Republicans hold onto power. That is why I broke quorum: I would not stand by and watch politicians choose their voters and erase entire communities from representation.
“Republican policies have failed Texans at every turn: skyrocketing healthcare costs, an education system starved of funding, and inflation that keeps driving up the cost of everyday life — all the product of a political class that remains loyal to Donald Trump at the expense of their own constituents.
“These failures belong to a Republican Party governed by self-interest, but one safeguard remains: the voters. Republicans fear the people’s voice, which is why they work so relentlessly to silence it. Do not be discouraged. Do everything you can to vote.
“The Court may have upheld these maps, but it cannot erase the truth: Texas Republicans stole five congressional seats because they are afraid of losing on their record. Texans deserve better, and I will never stop fighting to ensure every voice is heard.”
State Rep. James Talarico:
“Voters are supposed to choose their politicians — not the other way around.
“No matter what Donald Trump or his hand-picked Supreme Court throw our way, we’re going to keep fighting.
“We’ll keep fighting these corrupt maps, fighting for every Texas voter, and fighting alongside states across the country until partisan gerrymandering is finally banned in America.”