With a Supreme Court battle looming, the federal court ruling blocking Texas' new congressional map is adding uncertainty to the 2026 election.

The U.S. Supreme Court will now make a final decision on whether Texas can use its new congressional map, which was drawn this summer to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The outcome could have a huge impact on which party controls the U.

Republicans hope the U.S. Supreme Court will overrule a three-judge panel and bring the new map back into play, but the deadline for candidates to file is less than three weeks away, Dec. 8.

City Council members in Laguna Hills approved an election district map in an initial vote to transition the city to a district-based voting system after legal threats regarding voting rights.