Today the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Texas’ electoral maps, favoring Latino voters, that were drawn up by federal judges in the state. 

The Supreme Court justices instructed the Texas courts to come up with new maps focusing on the ones created by the Republican legislature which do not favor creating minority voting districts.  The court opined that Texas federal judges had gone too far in enacting their own map redistricting plan.

The original voting maps were drafted by the Republican-controlled legislature but rejected by the Department of Justice, which must approve any maps in states with a history of discrimination.

The redistricting maps that were rejected by the Supreme Court favored creating more Latino voting districts to better reflect the boom in the Hispanic population in Texas. 

The Supreme Court decision has the potential to effect upcoming elections and give an edge to Republican’s to gain more congressional seats.