Texas lawmaker raises concerns after Supreme Court backs Texas map

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — State Rep. Vince Perez raised concerns on Thursday about how local voters could be affected after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed the Texas redistricting map to remain for the 2026 elections.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked Texas from using its redrawn congressional map. The Supreme Court’s decision allows the redistricting plan to remain in place for the 2026 elections.

A three-judge federal panel had previously blocked the new map from being used in November, finding the plaintiffs were likely to prove the state had engaged in racial gerrymandering.

While some Republicans across the country praised the Supreme Court’s ruling, Democrats denounced it, saying it threatens the foundation of the Voting Rights Act.

During a press conference in El Paso on Thursday, Perez said the decision could have consequences for Texans who have been involved in redistricting fights.

“This is very concerning for all of us who have been fighting the redistricting battle right here in Texas,” Perez said.

He added, “The ruling opens the door to unleash more redistricting across the entire state.”

While Monday’s decision will allow the redistricting map to remain for the 2026 elections, questions remain about future elections in Texas and across the country as the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a Louisiana voting map, finding that lawmakers redrew the map in an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, in a ruling that weakens the reach of a key Voting Rights Act provision.

The justices ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s newly redrawn congressional map relied “too heavily on race.” The map had created a second majority-Black district in the state.

Voting rights organizations have challenged the redistricting maps, citing arguments that it violates the Voting Rights Act.

“With the new maps, there are a series of other lawsuits that are pending that essentially continue some of the same claims that applied earlier, in particular that it violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in putting racial minority groups, Latinos and African Americans, in a position where they are less likely to be able to exercise the ability to choose candidates of their preferred choice,” said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Brennan Center’s Washington, D.C. office.

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Texas lawmaker warns Supreme Court redistricting ruling could affect local voters (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)

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