A federal court in El Paso is scheduled to hear a lawsuit on September 30, 2025, challenging Texas' new 2026 congressional redistricting map, which was redrawn amid partisan conflicts and is considered pivotal for control of Congress.

The case involves three federal judges, including appointees from Obama, Reagan, and Trump, who will decide whether the map can be used in the upcoming midterm elections, with a decision expected before candidate filing deadlines in November.

Opponents argue the map unlawfully relies on racial gerrymandering, particularly dismantling majority-minority districts, which they say violates the Fourteenth Amendment and Voting Rights Act, supported by evidence from the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

The map aims to add five Republican seats, but critics contend it is unconstitutional because it relies on race and dilutes the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters, despite the state's claim that it was drawn without racial considerations.

Legal experts emphasize that drawing districts based on race is prohibited under longstanding law, and the case could escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court if the court finds the map unconstitutional.

The lawsuit is part of a broader legal battle over Texas redistricting, which began after the 2021 redistricting process, and involves allegations of violations of the Voting Rights Act and constitutional protections.

The outcome of this case could lead to Texas reverting to its 2021 map for the 2026 elections, potentially reducing minority representation in districts like Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio-Austin, Houston, and South Texas.

The case is influenced by political pressures, including threats of retaliatory redistricting from California's governor and federal officials criticizing coalition districts that combine racial groups.

The state defends the new map as a politically motivated, race-blind process, citing a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that courts cannot interfere with partisan gerrymandering unless other constitutional protections are violated.

The Justice Department previously raised concerns about racial considerations in the map, but Texas officials dismissed these as political cover, asserting that the redistricting was driven by partisan motives.

If the court blocks the new map, the 2021 map will be used for the 2026 elections, which could impact minority voters' ability to elect preferred candidates in key districts.

The legal challenge is supported by voting advocates and minority voters, who argue the map unlawfully relies heavily on race, and the case could have significant implications for voting rights and districting practices.