Overview
- The Virginia Supreme Court, in a 4-3 ruling on Friday, struck down the April 21 referendum that narrowly approved new Democratic-drawn U.S. House lines.
- The majority found the amendment process violated the state constitution’s two-session rule because the first legislative approval came on Oct. 31, 2025, after early voting had started, with more than 1.3 million ballots already cast.
- The decision nullifies the new map and keeps Virginia on its current 11-district plan for the midterms, where Democrats hold six seats and Republicans hold five.
- Democratic leaders condemned the ruling and signaled appeals, asking the court to delay its order and weighing a bid to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The reversal lands as a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision narrowed the Voting Rights Act and Republican-led states like Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama move to redraw maps, with Cook Political Report estimating Democrats could face a four-to-five seat disadvantage nationwide.