The Supreme Court provided a lifeline to Texas Republicans on Thursday, approving the use of the state’s congressional redistricting plan favored by the GOP for next year’s elections. This decision comes despite a lower court’s ruling that the map likely discriminates based on race, a plan strongly advocated by former President Donald Trump.

The justices responded swiftly to an emergency appeal from Texas, stressing the urgency since candidate qualifications for the new districts are already underway with primaries scheduled for March.

The Supreme Court’s decision temporarily halts the 2-1 lower court ruling that blocked the map, at least until a final verdict is reached. Previously, Justice Samuel Alito had issued a temporary stay on the order while the full court reviewed the Texas appeal.

This isn’t the first time the justices have intervened in congressional redistricting cases. Similar actions have occurred recently in states like Alabama and Louisiana, notably as elections approach.

The congressional map in Texas, established last summer under Trump’s influence, is designed to secure five additional House seats for Republicans.

This development is part of a broader nationwide redistricting struggle, as both parties vie to maintain or shift the balance of power in the House for the upcoming elections.