Texas Supreme Court bars new Galveston County map for November elections

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Galveston County cannot use newly redrawn precinct boundaries for November's elections, finding commissioners violated state election law by changing precincts after the March primaries had already been conducted. The court called the move 'unusual and perhaps unprecedented,' warning it would let officials 'unsettle the electoral map during an ongoing election for any reason.'

County Judge Mark Henry had told Houston Public Media in June that one goal of the new map was to increase Republican victories, saying it accomplishes his promise to turn Galveston County Republican. A constable and two residents, represented by the Campaign Legal Center and UCLA Voting Rights Project, sued to block the map, which is also being challenged in separate federal litigation as racial gerrymandering.

County attorney Paul Ready called the challenge 'a purely litigation-driven farce,' noting all affected November races are uncontested and warning the ruling could complicate overseas military ballots due in about a week. He said the ruling is '100% certain' not to change who holds office come January 2027.

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