Blaise Gainey

The battle over which map Texans will use for the 2026 midterm elections had an impact that spread nationwide.

Republicans came out victorious with this ruling.

Their new map will likely give the GOP five additional seats.

Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu led a quorum break with lawmakers staying out of state to delay the map's passage.

He says the move sends a message.

The ruling will also shake up which candidates decide to run in Texas.

Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett has said he won't run again if these maps were in place.

He is yet to make that official.

For NPR News, I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.

Starting today, public buildings like courthouses, libraries, and prisons will have to restrict restroom and locker room access based on a person's sex assigned at birth.

To be clear, the law does not affect private businesses, which can use their own bathroom policies.

But advocates for trans rights say the law is discriminatory.

Ash Hall with the ACLU of Texas says exactly how the bill will be implemented is not clear.

Hall says a lawsuit against the measure isn't off the table.

I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.

The lower federal court had ruled challengers are likely to prove in a trial that the Texas map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

But Governor Greg Abbott and state attorneys appealed, and on Friday night, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito responded by putting a temporary hold on the lower court ruling until Supreme Court justices can weigh in.

Texas NAACP President and lawyer Gary Bledsoe represents plaintiffs seeking to strike down the new maps.

A final decision from the Supreme Court may come as soon as Monday.

For the Texas Newsroom, I'm Blaise Gainey.