Supreme Court Upholds Controversial Texas Voting Map Despite Objections

The Supreme Court has allowed a Texas election to proceed under a voting map that a lower court had found to dilute the votes of Black and Latino residents. The case, centered on Galveston County, could have broader implications for challenges to election maps and the protection of voting rights nationwide. The Supreme Court majority did not provide a rationale for leaving the map in place, leaving it unclear whether they deemed it too close to the election or if they are sympathetic to the argument that "majority-minority" districts are not covered by the Voting Rights Act. The court's three liberal justices dissented, arguing that the appeals court's order disrupted the status quo and exceeded its authority.