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Via an unsigned ruling, the highest judicial body has allowed Texas to implement a revised congressional district plan that is projected to include several five additional GOP-friendly districts. The 6-3 order, handed down on Thursday, approves a request by the state to set aside a federal judge's block that had invalidated the boundaries in November.

Court's Reasoning

The federal judge improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, creating much confusion and disturbing the sensitive balance of power in elections, the order stated in justifying its decision.

The district court had determined that Texas had probably classified voters by their race – a act known as illegal race-based districting – when it enacted the new maps. It had instructed the state to revert to the maps established after the most recent national count for the next year's election.

Stinging Dissent

In a forcefully written objection, Justice Elena Kagan objected to the court's action. She contended that it disregarded the work of the district court, pointing out that its opinion was crafted by a judge appointed by former President Donald Trump.

Our position is above the district court, but our capability is not greater for resolving such fact-driven issues, Kagan stated in a opinion supported by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Kagan added, The majority's order guarantees that Texas's new map, with all its increased favoritism, will dictate next year's elections. And it ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts based on their race. And that result, as this court has declared repeatedly, is a violation of the constitution.

Countrywide Map-Drawing Fight

The court's action occurs during a countrywide contest over the remapping of electoral maps. Texas is a crucial component in efforts to alter the U.S. House map to protect a fragile Republican control. Ordinarily, redistricting happens after a decennial population count. Yet the action by Texas Republicans to initiate a bold off-cycle redistricting earlier in the summer triggered a series of events among other states.

Conservative legislators in including North Carolina and Missouri have also passed new maps that could add several additional Republican-leaning seats. Democrats, for their part, have pushed back with their own plans in states like California and Virginia, which are intended to balance those projected gains.

Political Reactions

Lone Star State top lawyer welcomed the supreme court ruling. In a release, he said the order defended Texas's fundamental right to draw a map that guarantees electoral outcomes aligned with his party. We are setting the precedent for restoring our country, through each electoral district and individual state, he added.

On the other hand, opposition party leaders criticized the ruling. It's incredibly disappointing that the Court has rubber stamped a map enacted by Texas Republicans which, simply put, is an extreme, racially gerrymandered map, said the head of a major Democratic election organization.

Another top Democratic leader argued the court had another time damaged its credibility by approving a race-based map. Tonight's ruling by far-right justices on the supreme court is further proof that the extremists will do anything to rig the midterm elections. The gerrymandered Texas congressional map is a partisan and racially discriminatory power grab designed to subvert the will of the voters – particularly in Black and Latino communities, he added.