Va. Judge Rules Dem-Led Redistricting Plan Violates State Law
A Virginia circuit court judge has delivered a significant blow to Democrats’ efforts to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, ruling that the proposed constitutional amendment enabling mid-decade redistricting was advanced unlawfully.
Court Declares Amendment Void
Jack Hurley Jr., a judge in Tazewell County Circuit Court, determined Tuesday that state lawmakers failed to follow mandatory procedural and constitutional requirements when moving the amendment forward. Among the deficiencies cited were missed notice and publication deadlines, as well as attempts to consider the measure during a legislative session not properly authorized for constitutional amendments.
As a result, Hurley declared the amendment void.
The measure, approved in January by both chambers of the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly, would have placed before voters a plan allowing lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts mid-decade — a move critics say was transparently designed to boost Democratic representation in Washington.
Opponents of the proposal argued the effort violated established state law and constitutional safeguards governing how amendments to Virginia’s charter must be adopted.
Democrats Cry “Court Shopping,” Promise Appeal
Backers of the amendment swiftly criticized the ruling, accusing Republicans of seeking out a favorable venue for litigation and vowing to continue the fight.
According to The Washington Times, Virginians for Fair Elections — a campaign advocating for the redistricting resolution — expects an appeal.
“Republicans court-shopped for a ruling because litigation and misinformation are the only tools they have left,” campaign manager Keren Charles Dongo said. “We’re prepared for what comes next, and Virginians deserve both the right to vote and the chance to level the playing field.”
Both sides have signaled that the case is far from over.
High Court Allows Referendum to Proceed — For Now
In a parallel development, the Supreme Court of Virginia has temporarily allowed a statewide referendum on an updated redistricting proposal to move forward in April, even as the broader legal battle continues.
The high court reversed a lower-court decision that had previously blocked the plan on procedural grounds. That order clears the way for voters to weigh in on whether to amend the state constitution to permit lawmakers to redraw congressional boundaries.
Under the proposal, Democratic leaders claim the new map could significantly expand their share of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House seats — potentially flipping as many as four Republican-held districts.
Republicans have blasted the initiative as a nakedly partisan maneuver aimed at engineering electoral outcomes rather than reflecting organic demographic changes.
The referendum is scheduled for April 21. However, even if voters approve the measure, further legal challenges could follow, leaving uncertainty about how and when any new map would take effect.
National Redistricting Battle Intensifies
The fight in Virginia reflects a broader, nationwide struggle over congressional redistricting, with both parties pursuing legislative and legal strategies to shape the balance of power in the U.S. House.
Control of the House in 2026 is expected to be fiercely contested, heightening the stakes in state-level map disputes.
President Donald J. Trump has made clear that Republicans should not cede ground in the redistricting wars. In December, the President celebrated a redistricting vote in Indiana and urged swift action to solidify GOP gains there.
“It was my Honor to win Indiana six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and this new Map would give the incredible people of Indiana the opportunity to elect TWO additional Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The Indiana Senate must now pass this Map, AS IS, and get it to Governor Mike Braun’s desk, ASAP, to deliver a gigantic Victory for Republicans in the ‘Hoosier State,’ and across the Country,” he said.
While a handful of Indiana Senate Republicans ultimately withheld support, preventing the measure from advancing in January, the episode underscores the strategic importance of redistricting battles nationwide.
With courts now playing a decisive role in Virginia and other states, the outcome of these map fights could determine not only partisan advantage — but the constitutional boundaries of state legislative authority itself.
As 2026 approaches, one thing is certain: the battle over congressional lines is no longer a background procedural matter. It is a front-line fight over representation, rule of law, and the future direction of the country.