Federal judge instructed state to use older maps, with Republicans likely to appeal decision

A federal district court judge ruled that the map Texas adopted in August is an illegal racial gerrymander.

The decision said evidence indicates the new districts were "racially gerrymandered".

Federal judge instructed state to use older maps, with Republicans likely to appeal decision

The majority on a federal court in El Paso, Texas, found that the new map used race to redraw congressional districts.

A federal court in Texas Tuesday blocked Texas from using a new congressional map intended to flip several Democratic-held U.S. House of Representatives seats.

The ruling is a blow to Republicans who hoped to use the maps to shore up their narrow House majority ahead of the midterms. An appeal is on the way.