April 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared Texas to use its rare mid-decade congressional map, handing a victory to the Trump administration and Republicans in their expanding redistricting fight ahead of the midterm elections.
Texas was the first state to redraw its congressional map under pressure from President Donald Trump, as Republicans seek to hold on to their narrow majority in the House of Representatives, prompting a gerrymandering arms race as both parties redraw maps in states they control.
Four Republican-led states, including Texas, have redrawn their maps through legislation, while two Democratic-led states have done so through voter-approved ballot measures.
Most are being challenged in court, and Texas' map appears to be the first to receive final Supreme Court approval for use in the midterm election.
The new map is expected to produce additional GOP seats in the House of Representatives. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 seats in the lower chamber.
