The state's emergency application comes after a lower court said "substantial evidence" indicated Texas' new map was an illegal racial gerrymander.

The state had sought what is known as a stay – or pause – from the federal court on its ruling that Texas could not use the newly-drawn congressional map

The U.S. Supreme Court will now make a final decision on whether Texas can use its new congressional map, which was drawn this summer to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The outcome could have a huge impact on which party controls the U.

Gov. Greg Abbott called federal judge Jeffrey Brown's redistricting decision "gross misjudgment" and said he's confident the U.S. Supreme Court will side with Texas.

Circuit Court Judge Jerry Smith wrote a fiery 104-page dissent attacking colleague Judge Jeffrey Brown's decision to block Texas redistricting maps.