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3h ago

Virginia High Court Sets Monday Hearing on Halted Redistricting Referendum

The fast-track review could decide if a voter-approved map shifting Virginia’s U.S. House seats toward Democrats is used in the 2026 midterms.

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A person walks to vote in the Virginia redistricting referendum at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Alexandria, Va.
A sign urges early voters to vote “yes” on the Virginia redistricting referendum at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center in Arlington, Va., last month.

Overview

  • Virginia’s Supreme Court, which scheduled oral arguments for Monday, will review challenges to the April 21 referendum that passed 51.5% to 48.5%.
  • Certification is paused after Tazewell County Judge Jack Hurley Jr. blocked the result Wednesday, citing legislative procedural missteps and what he called misleading ballot language.
  • Republican plaintiffs, including Ryan McDougle, the RNC, the NRCC, and Rep. Ben Cline, argue the General Assembly violated the two-session amendment process and failed to meet a 90‑day ballot language notice rule.
  • Attorney General Jay Jones filed an emergency appeal to reinstate the vote, as election planners face tight calendars with a May 26 candidate filing deadline under current schedules.
  • The outcome carries national stakes because the map favors Democrats in roughly 10 of 11 House seats, reflecting a broader mid‑decade redistricting fight that started in Texas and now includes a Florida special session next week.