Virginia’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Democrats’ Redistricting Plan, Giving Edge to Republicans

Virginia’s Supreme Court has struck down a redistricting amendment approved by voters, marking a blow to Democrats in the redistricting battle that has played out across the country. The state’s existing maps, which will remain in place through 2026, give Democrats a 6-5 advantage. Last month, Virginia voters approved a new congressional map that Democrats thought would give their party a 10-1 advantage in the House. The ruling means that, as the redistricting battle currently stands, Republicans will have picked up more seats through redistricting than have Democrats. Virginia’s high court voted 4-3 on Friday to affirm a ruling by a Tazewell County judge who found that the General Assembly did not follow the proper constitutional procedure for advancing the new maps because voting for the 2025 House of Delegates elections had already begun before lawmakers voted to send the amendment to the ballot.Virginia’s constitution requires a two-step process for lawmakers to send amendments to the ballot. Lawmakers must first vote to advance a proposal, then the state’s constitution requires there to be an “intervening general election.” After that election, lawmakers must vote again to put the proposal on the ballot.The justice who wrote the opinion, D. Arthur Kelsey, wrote, “The purpose of Article XII, Section 1 is to give voters the opportunity to participate in the process of amending their Constitution.”“The commonwealth in this case … ended up denying over 1.3 million Virginians their constitutional right to have a voice in the debate over whether their Constitution should be amended,” Justice Kelsey said. Virginia’s attorney general, Jay Jones, criticized the ruling in a statement, saying, “Today the Supreme Court of Virginia has chosen to put politics over the rule of law by issuing a ruling that overturns the April 21 special election on redistricting.”“This decision silences the voices of the millions of Virginians who cast their ballots in every corner of the commonwealth,” Mr. Jones said. He argued the process for the amendment was “timely, constitutionally-compliant, and legally sound” and said his office is “evaluating every legal pathway forward to defend the will of the people and protect the integrity of Virginia’s elections.”President Trump celebrated the ruling, writing on Truth Social, “Huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia. The Virginia Supreme Court has just struck down the Democrats’ horrible gerrymander.”According to Politico, after the ruling in Virginia, Republicans could net 10 seats with the maps that have already been redrawn. And more Southern states could redraw their maps.Earlier this week, South Carolina’s House approved a proposal to hold a special session focused on redistricting. On Thursday, Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, approved new congressional maps that would eliminate the state’s one majority-black voting district. The NAACP quickly filed a lawsuit to challenge the legality of the new maps.This week, lawmakers in Alabama held a special session designed to redraw that state’s congressional maps. However, on Friday, the fifth day of the session, the proceedings were interrupted by protesters.

Virginia’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Democrats’ Redistricting Plan, Giving Edge to Republicans

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