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Conservative-majority court reverses lower court decision, clearing path for redistricting map designed to flip five Democratic seats.
A new electoral map, which seeks to give the Republican Party an edge in the House of Representatives come November, has been restored by the US Supreme Court. In a Monday decision that affirms the earlier interim ruling issued in December, the conservative majority on the bench has greenlit the map that was passed last August by the Republican-leadership in the state legislature and Governor Greg Abbott of Texas.
This latest development by the US Supreme Court overturns the earlier decision to block the map based on the likelihood of racially discriminatory measures, contrary to the Constitution. The map in question stands a chance of flipping as many as five existing House seats from Democrat to Republican.
Three Supreme Court justices who form the liberal bloc have disagreed with Monday's ruling and continue to oppose the redistricting measure. President Donald Trump had earlier called for Republicans to redraw their state congressional district maps before the midterms.
The redistricting controversy is an illustration of partisan disputes in relation to electoral districting. Although typically, the process of redistricting is performed one time during each decade following the census, recent attempts by states run by Republicans and Democrats have been aimed at securing partisan advantages. The United States Supreme Court allowed California to draw up an electoral map to secure five additional seats for Democrats due to the drawing of House districts in California by Democrats in reaction to actions carried out by Republicans from Texas.
Republican parties enjoy slight majorities in both Houses. A loss of either chamber to Democrats will threaten legislation by Trump, placing him at risk of Congressional inquiries initiated by Democrats. Business Honor notes that the Supreme Court’s decision benefits Republicans politically and facilitates the legislative goals of the Trump administration.
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