Overview
- Judge Jack Hurley Jr. in Tazewell County granted a temporary restraining order that blocks election officials from taking steps toward the April 21 referendum, including early voting that had been set to start March 6, until at least March 18 or further court action.
- The Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith sued to stop the vote, arguing the amendment process violated Virginia’s intervening‑election requirement, the 90‑day timing rule, and used misleading ballot language.
- The Supreme Court of Virginia last week said its order “has no effect on the referendum scheduled for April 21, 2026,” allowing the vote to proceed pending appeals and creating a clash with the new circuit‑court pause.
- Democrats passed a new congressional map in the General Assembly that analysts say could shift as many as four U.S. House seats toward their party, but it cannot take effect without voter approval of the constitutional amendment.
- Democrats are appealing the Tazewell ruling, the attorney general signaled an immediate appeal, and further fast‑moving decisions are expected as both cases continue on parallel tracks.