Virginia voters approve overhaul of congressional maps
Virginia voters support a major redrawing of congressional districts that could reshape control of the House.
A Virginia judge has blocked officials from certifying approval of a new congressional map in the Old Dominion, a day after voters narrowly passed it.
Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. said in an April 22 ruling in a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee that the ballot measure to approve the map was “grossly misleading.” Hawley said lawmakers were not following the constitutional amendment rules required to redraw the map.
Virginia Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement posted on social media that he “looks forward” to appealing the ruling and defending the bill.
“Activist judges should not have the voting rights of the people,” Jay said.
The referendum already faces multiple legal challenges. The Virginia Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed despite a separate lawsuit, before arguing that the measure, which said the new districts would “restore equity,” was unfair and misleading. The legality of the referendum is expected to be reviewed in the coming weeks.
Kyle Kondik, executive director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told USA TODAY on election night that “this map may not go into effect this November,” but voter approval is “certainly a big hurdle to jump.”
Democrats currently control six of the state’s 11 seats, but are poised to have a 10-to-1 advantage under the voter-approved map. The vote was part of a massive gerrymandering arms race launched last year by President Donald Trump to thwart an expected “blue wave” in the 2026 midterm elections.
Contributed by: Reuters
