WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) -- In a major victory for Republicans, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Texas’ contested congressional maps to remain in place for next year’s midterm elections. In an emergency ruling, the court’s conservative majority halted a lower court decision that found the maps were racially discriminatory and violated the Voting Rights Act. Todd Belt, a political science professor at George Washington University, said the ruling effectively gives states the green light to push forward with controversial mid-decade redistricting plans. “What the Supreme Court just said is game on for redistricting,” Belt said, adding that states including North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and Indiana could be next to pursue similar maps. Texas Republicans redrew the congressional boundaries this summer, at President Donald Trump’s request. The changes would give Texas Republicans a chance to pick up as many as five seats in the House of Representatives. The decision has sparked backlash from both parties, particularly lawmakers whose seats are now at risk. “I think it’s a horrible decision,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, (D-Mo). His district became more competitive after Missouri Republicans approved a map aimed at giving the GOP an upper hand. Cleaver said he’s holding out hope a voter referendum will overturn the changes. “The people will be knocking on doors, going to shopping centers, collecting signatures,” he said. “We think that the whole of Missouri speaking is much more powerful, even to a Supreme Court.” In California, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley is also facing a tougher path to reelection after voters approved a map more favorable to Democrats. While the Supreme Court questioned whether race played a role in Texas’ mapmaking, it acknowledged that political motives did. Kiley argues both should be illegal. “You shouldn’t be drawing maps on either basis,” he said. Kiley has introduced legislation that would ban partisan gerrymandering entirely. “You should instead have fair maps in every state.” Some legal experts sharply criticized the court’s expedited decision. Paul Schiff Berman, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University, said the justices overturned extensive lower-court findings with almost no review. “The Supreme Court looked at a very, very large record from the trial court and overturned the trial court based on almost no review, with no arguments,” he said. While Belt agrees the Texas map could help Republicans, he cautions the strategy could backfire by diluting traditionally safe GOP districts and potentially giving Democrats new opportunities as they look to reclaim the House majority next November.