Federal Judges Block Texas Maps, Prompting GOP Second-Guessing of Mid‑Cycle Redistricting Push

President Donald Trump’s effort to spur mid‑cycle redistricting took a major hit Tuesday when a three‑judge federal panel struck down Texas’ Republican‑drawn congressional map, finding it likely amounted to an unlawful, race‑based gerrymander. The decision — together with a separate delay in Indiana — has raised fresh doubts among Republicans about whether the nationwide remapping campaign was worth the political cost.

The panel rejected maps that had been engineered to produce a potential five‑seat pickup for Republicans, saying the lines likely prioritized race in ways that violate federal law. The ruling comes as Indiana lawmakers postponed a White House‑backed redesign until their regular legislative session in January amid resistance from local officials and activists.

Taken together, the Texas ruling and the Indiana delay represent serious obstacles to the White House strategy of using mid‑decade map changes to bolster a GOP majority in the U.S. House. Republicans launched the campaign with momentum, but state‑level pushback, Democrats’ successful ballot measure in California and ongoing court challenges have narrowed that advantage with under a year until the midterm elections.

Republicans had drawn nine potentially favorable districts across four states — five in Texas and four combined in Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio — though several of those maps now face legal scrutiny. Democrats stand to gain five seats in California after voters approved a redistricting measure, and court decisions or possible future redraws could yield additional Democratic pickups in Utah and Virginia. The Department of Justice has also joined litigation in California, adding another layer of legal contestation.

“The whole thing is just utterly foolish,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R‑Calif.) said after his seat was redrawn to favor Democrats. Kiley is sponsoring legislation to bar mid‑cycle redistricting and criticized House leadership for not providing firmer guidance early on.

Other Republicans voiced similar misgivings. “I was never in favor of doing all this redistricting stuff anyway,” Rep. Dan Newhouse (R‑Wash.) said. California strategist Rob Stutzman warned the effort could be remembered as a miscalculation if the Texas ruling stands.

Supporters of the White House‑backed campaign remain hopeful that the decision will be overturned on appeal, potentially at the U.S. Supreme Court. “We look forward to reversal on appeal,” said one person familiar with the administration’s thinking. Longtime Abbott adviser Dave Carney defended the strategy, arguing state legislatures retain broad authority to draw maps with partisan aims.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Kansas and Indiana remain under pressure to redraw districts — moves that could produce up to three more Republican‑leaning seats — and Florida Republicans are preparing for a redistricting commission meeting that could yield several GOP‑friendly districts. GOP redistricting attorney Jason Torchinsky noted that Republicans have more immediate levers to influence maps in some states.

Critics say the mid‑cycle campaign diverted time and resources from other priorities. “Any time or resources spent on [redistricting] I think is time and resources that could have been used on issues that are actually of importance to the country,” Kiley said.

With key legal battles likely to continue and appeals pending, the mid‑cycle redistricting strategy remains unresolved. If the Texas ruling is upheld and other Republican legislatures refrain from aggressive redraws, the campaign could leave the GOP with little net gain — or risk losses — heading into next year’s midterms.

Contributors: Samuel Benson, Lisa Kashinsky and Adam Wren.