Justice Alito restores GOP-backed Texas congressional map, for now

• Plus, the state's midterm elections have been up in the air as candidates are filing to run in district lines that have not been settled. Candidates have until Dec. 8 to file to run for a seat in the U.S. House.

The latest: Alito halted the temporary injunction that a panel of three federal judges put into place on Tuesday.

• Gov. Greg Abbott and state officials had appealed that order to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Alito gave plaintiffs until Monday to respond to his order. Alito's order isn't on the merits of the case, but rather on the injunction putting the map on hold.

What they're saying: "We look forward to continuing to press forward in our case on the merits," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on X.

Catch up quick: Texas began this summer's unusual mid-decade redistricting effort after President Trump pressured the state to give the GOP more House seats to protect its majority. That kicked off redistricting efforts from both parties nationwide.

• Several lawsuits challenged the new Texas map arguing that it was racially discriminatory.

• The panel, led by a Trump-appointed judge, found that Texas Republicans drew the new map based on racial makeup, not politics alone — which state leaders deny.
• Redistricting based on politics is legal, but racial gerrymandering is not.

What's next: The high court could decide on the legality of the new map soon, but a timeline is unclear. Primary election day in Texas is March 3.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and has been updated.