| WASHINGTON, D.C./AUSTIN, TX — A three-judge federal panel ruled that Texas’ 2025 redrawn congressional map, which was enacted through a sham legislative process in August, cannot be used for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. In the 2-1 decision, the panel preliminarily determined that Texas engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, thereby harming Black and Hispanic voters. The ruling reaffirms that unnecessarily sorting voters predominantly based on race is unconstitutional, even if done for professed partisan objectives. The order requires Texas to use its 2021 congressional map for upcoming elections. Texas has filed a notice of appeal to the US Supreme Court. In September, led by the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), a group of nonpartisan civil rights and racial justice organizations filed an amicus brief, otherwise known as a “friend of the court” brief, urging the federal court to block the 2025 map from going into effect before the 2026 elections because the map is racially discriminatory. Texas is home to the largest total number of eligible Black voters in the country, and it is possible — and necessary — for a fairly drawn congressional map to protect the electoral opportunities for both Black and Hispanic Texas voters. “The court’s decision makes clear what communities across Texas have known all along: this map was engineered to diminish the political power of Black and Hispanic voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “Blocking it is critical to building an inclusive democracy in a state that is home to many voters of color. The League of Women Voters will continue to stand with these communities as the fight for fair maps advances.” “Today’s ruling prevents Texas from using a congressional map that would have further harmed Black and Hispanic voters’ ability to elect representatives of their choice,” said Joyce LeBombard, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. “By blocking this discriminatory map, the court reinforced the principle that redistricting must serve voters, not political self-interest. Texans deserve congressional maps that reflect our growing, diverse population, and the League of Women Voters of Texas will keep fighting for that standard.” The amicus brief filed by LDF was on behalf of LDF, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Texas, Black Voters Matter, the Houston Area Urban League, Friendship-West Baptist Church, American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU of Texas. These organizations issued the following statement in response to the court’s ruling: “The ruling is an incredible win, not only for Black and Hispanic voters in Texas, but for all voters in Texas and our democracy. The decision reaffirms the constitutional protections in place to guard against efforts that harm the voices of Black voters and other communities of color through unlawful maneuvering. Texas, like other states, must be held accountable when they evade their constitutional duties. We applaud this federal court’s ruling, and hope this is the first of many steps taken to finally provide Black and Hispanic voters with the long overdue fair congressional representation that they deserve. We will continue to remain steadfast in this pursuit of equal and fair representation in Texas and for communities throughout our country.” # # # | 
