A state court judge blocked Virginia from using its new congressional maps on Wednesday, one day after voters approved the redistricting referendum. Judge Jack Hurley of Tazewell County Circuit Court declared all votes for and against Tuesday's referendum "ineffective." Hurley cited violations of the state constitution, arguing the referendum skirted a 90-day public notice requirement and calling the question presented to voters "flagrantly misleading."
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said he will appeal the injunction. Jones stated on X that "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote."
The Republican National Committee called the ruling "a major victory for Virginians." RNC Chair Joe Gruters said Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor.
The ballot measure, approved by a margin of 51.5% to 48.5%, aimed to amend Virginia's constitution. It would have allowed lawmakers to redraw the state's House map, overriding a 2020 amendment that created a bipartisan commission to handle redistricting. The state's Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a new map earlier this year. Virginia will return to its old redistricting system after the 2030 election.
The new maps could have allowed Democrats to flip as many as four House seats. The maps would make 10 of Virginia's 11 House seats Democratic-leaning, largely by dividing up the deep-blue D.C. suburbs in Northern Virginia into several districts. The state's House delegation is currently made up of six Democrats and five Republicans.
President Trump responded to the redistricting win by saying the results were "rigged" without citing evidence.
Rep. Steve Womack said one has to be careful when breaking tradition to create an advantage. He added that for every action, there are second- and third-order effects that one could live to regret. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick called gerrymandering "bad for our country."
Sen. Lindsey Graham said South Carolina should think about redistricting after the Virginia vote. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, "Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out." He claimed Democrats' Virginia redistricting win was needed to stop what he calls Donald Trump's "MAGA power grab" in the midterms.
Republicans were successful in enacting new maps in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. Voters in California signed off on a new map last year that could net Democrats four or five new seats. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn Texas' and California's new maps.
A state court judge blocked Virginia from using its new congressional maps on Wednesday, one day after voters approved the redistricting referendum. Judge Jack Hurley of Tazewell County Circuit Court declared all votes for and against Tuesday's referendum "ineffective." Hurley cited violations of the state constitution, arguing the referendum skirted a 90-day public notice requirement and calling the question presented to voters "flagrantly misleading."
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said he will appeal the injunction. Jones stated on X that "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote."
The Republican National Committee called the ruling "a major victory for Virginians." RNC Chair Joe Gruters said Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor.
The ballot measure, approved by a three-point margin, aimed to amend Virginia's constitution. It would have allowed lawmakers to redraw the state's House map, overriding a 2020 amendment that created a bipartisan commission to handle redistricting. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, 51.5% of voters approved the measure, while 48.5% opposed it. The state's Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a new map earlier this year. Virginia will return to its old redistricting system after the 2030 election.
The new maps could have allowed Democrats to flip as many as four House seats. The maps would make 10 of Virginia's 11 House seats Democratic-leaning, largely by dividing up the deep-blue D.C. suburbs in Northern Virginia into several districts. The state's House delegation is currently made up of six Democrats and five Republicans.
President Trump responded to the redistricting win by saying the results were "rigged" without citing evidence. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Republicans were winning all day, until the very end.
A nonpartisan election handicapper, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, shifted four Virginia House districts in Democrats’ favor on Tuesday after voters approved the redistricting map.
Rep. Steve Womack said one has to be careful when breaking tradition to create an advantage. He added that for every action, there are second- and third-order effects that one could live to regret. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick called gerrymandering "bad for our country."
Sen. Lindsey Graham said South Carolina should think about redistricting after the Virginia vote. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries put Florida and its Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, on notice. He claimed Democrats' Virginia redistricting win was needed to stop what he calls Donald Trump's "MAGA power grab" in the midterms.
Republicans were successful in enacting new maps in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. Voters in California signed off on a new map last year that could net Democrats four or five new seats. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn Texas' and California's new maps.
The court's decision puts the redistricting process on hold, potentially impacting the balance of power in the House of Representatives and raising questions about the fairness and constitutionality of the proposed maps.
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