A decision on the state’s new congressional map will affect five House seats and could help determine control of the chamber next year.

Alito issued the order in his capacity as the justice who handles urgent appeals from Texas, saying the map could remain.

Republican Congressman Troy Nehls, whose district covers the majority of Fort Bend County, has announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2026.

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.

Hours after federal judges blocked Texas from using a newly drawn Congressional map, state leaders filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has set the date for the runoff election to fill late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat in Congress.

After leaders in four member cities scheduled elections to consider leaving DART next May, a fifth North Texas town may join the ranks.