Overview
- Virginia’s high court, which rejected Attorney General Jay Jones’ emergency stay Tuesday, left the April 21 referendum uncertified as the case advances.
- A Tazewell County judge, Jack Hurley Jr., had blocked certification and declared the referendum votes ineffective, issuing a permanent injunction against the state’s elections officials.
- The dispute turns on Virginia’s amendment process that requires passage in two legislative sessions with an election in between, and opponents say early voting in 2025 began before the amendment’s first passage.
- Voters approved a map projected to give Democrats about a 10–1 edge in U.S. House seats, raising stakes for the 2026 midterms and tightening election calendars for candidates.
- The Supreme Court heard fast‑tracked arguments Monday in Scott v. McDougle, and related cases continue, including Koski v. RNC and a Richmond suit claiming the proposed map is an unconstitutional gerrymander.