Virginia court blocks voter-approved redistricting plan that would have favored Democrats in midterms

Apr 21, 2026

A Virginia court has blocked a voter-approved redistricting plan that could have given Democrats four additional U.S. House seats. Judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled the referendum invalid following a lawsuit by the RNC. The plan, which passed 51.5% to 48.5%, was part of a national partisan battle over mid-decade redistricting initiated by Donald Trump. Virginia's Attorney General plans to appeal the decision, which Republicans hailed as a major victory.

Virginia congressional redistricting referendum

▪On April 21, 2026, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment for a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan.
▪The amendment temporarily bypasses a bipartisan redistricting commission that Virginia voters approved in 2020.
▪The referendum passed by a narrow margin of 51.5% to 48.5%, according to the Virginia department of elections.
▪The new map could have changed Virginia's 11-seat congressional delegation from a 6-5 Democratic advantage to a 10-1 edge.
▪The plan was designed to give Democrats an opportunity to win as many as four additional U.S. House seats.

Trump mid-decade redistricting push

▪In response to Republican efforts, Democrats pursued similar mid-decade redistricting in states including California and Utah.
▪The national battle over redistricting began after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states like Texas to redraw congressional maps.

Court challenges to referendum

▪The Virginia Supreme Court is also considering the legality of the plan in a separate case that could render the referendum results meaningless.
▪Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced his office plans to appeal the court's decision.
▪On April 22, 2026, Judge Jack Hurley Jr. of the Tazewell County Circuit Court blocked the referendum, ruling it invalid.
▪The Republican National Committee filed the lawsuit that led to the block, arguing the referendum's timing and phrasing were illegal.

Democratic campaign efforts

▪Democrats argued the new map was a necessary step to counteract Republican gerrymandering in other states.
▪Former President Barack Obama was featured in television ads urging Virginians to vote "yes" on the referendum.
▪Virginia's Democratic Governor, Abigail Spanberger, backed the effort to redraw the state's congressional maps.

Republican opposition campaign

▪The Republican National Committee called the court's decision a "major victory" and accused Democrats of deceiving voters.
▪President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Virginians to vote "no" on the referendum.
▪Former Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin and former state Attorney General Jason Miyares led the GOP's campaign against the ballot initiative.

Partisan gerrymandering debate

▪Republicans argued the Democratic plan was an "unconstitutional power grab" that would create a "severe partisan gerrymander."
▪The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could impact the Voting Rights Act and majority-minority districts.
▪The amendment specifies that redistricting responsibilities would return to the bipartisan commission after the 2030 census.