Link to News Story: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-candidates-wait-for-clarity-on-2026-congressional-map

CBS Austin by Andrew Lamparski Tuesday, November 25, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide whether the state's new congressional maps can take effect in 2026, leaving candidates across the state uncertain about the future of their campaigns.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary stay on a district court's decision last week, blocking the use of the state's new congressional map. The move gives the full Supreme Court a chance to consider the ruling following an emergency appeal by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The stay raises questions for candidates running based on the new map, like Republican Josh Cortez. Cortez is running for the 35th Congressional District, which will include part of Bexar and surrounding counties.

"Most of it is education," Cortez said of the current state of the campaign trail. "And a lot of what we've been able to do is talk to people, explain to them, hey, there's a new map now."

The district saw one of the more drastic boundary changes during the redistricting process this summer. The current District 35, held by Democratic Congressman Greg Casar, stretches from Austin to San Antonio along I-35.

"Putting them back to 2021, if you want to see a gerrymandered district, look at that one," Cortez said.

But his new district isn't a guarantee. The Supreme Court will make a decision about whether the new map can stay for the 2026 election.

"All candidacies are effectively frozen in place because the boundaries of 37 of our 38 districts have been changed, some of them very substantially," said Mark P. Jones, political science professor at Rice University.

Casar's team says the congressman is preparing for whatever comes.

"His plans remain the same as they’ve always been: 35 under the existing maps, 37 if the illegal Trump-Abbott maps are in place," a spokesperson said in an email on Tuesday.

Democrat John Lira, a Marine, is running in the redrawn CD-35, with the future of his campaign depending on the outcome of the court case.

"There is a lot of concern," Lira said. "We're having to change our messaging. We're explaining to our donors, our supporters, that we're ready to go. We haven't stood down one bit. We have kept our campaign operations alive."

Lira stands in opposition to the new map, but took the opportunity to run to represent the new district.

"Nothing's caught us by surprise with this rogue Supreme Court. They seem always willing to kind of do the bidding of Trump, and we'll see how it goes."

Lira said he expects a decision from the Supreme Court as early as tomorrow or Monday.

Note: Story also ran on NBC NEWS 4 San Antonio, CW39 Houston