Hansi Luwong

That court found the map's challenges are likely to prove in a trial that the map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

It's because multiples have Republican lawmakers made public statements suggesting they passed it to eliminate existing districts where black and Latino voters together make up the majority.

But in Texas's appeal to the Supreme Court, the state claims that lawmakers were not motivated by race and focused instead on drawing new districts that are more likely to elect Republicans.

If the Supreme Court clears a way for Texas to use the contested map, Republicans may be able to pick up five more seats in the U.S.

House.

But time is running out to change the map for Texas' midterm election.

The state's candidate filing deadline is in about two weeks.

Hansi Luwong, NPR News.