Alito Temporarily Reinstates Texas’ Congressional Map Likely To Help GOP

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito blocked a federal court ruling Friday that struck down Texas’ new congressional map, allowing Republicans to continue using the disputed boundaries while the high court weighs the case.

Alito ordered the League of United Latin American Citizens and other challengers to respond by Monday at 5 p.m. EST, according to the court document. The administrative stay blocks the Nov. 18 order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas while the Supreme Court considers the case.

The Supreme Court order states the district court’s ruling “is hereby administratively stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court.” Alito signed the order personally on Nov. 21.

The stay comes after a federal panel ruled 2-1 earlier this week that the new map was likely a racial gerrymander, The Hill reported. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court Friday evening. (RELATED: Voters From Both Parties Support Gerrymandering, But Only If It Helps Their Own Side Win: POLL)

🚨Breaking: Justice Alito administratively pauses lower court’s decision regarding Texas redistricting pic.twitter.com/HVdhT7VGsv

— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) November 22, 2025

“The confusion sown by the district court’s eleventh-hour injunction poses a very real risk of preventing candidates from being placed on the ballot and may well call into question the integrity of the upcoming election,” Abbott’s application states, according to The Hill.

Texas Republicans passed the map earlier this year following pressure from President Donald Trump to boost the GOP’s chances of keeping House control in the midterms. The new boundaries create up to five Republican pickup opportunities.

The administrative stay allows candidates to continue filing under the new map’s boundaries. Texas’ candidate filing period closes Dec. 8. Abbott asked the justices to rule by Dec. 1.

The court will likely issue a ruling after receiving the challengers’ response Monday.