A campaign sign displays Virginia’s current and proposed electoral maps on a Republican volunteer table outside the polling place at the Burke Center Library on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Burke, Virginia, USA.
Graham Sloan | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday invalidated the state’s recently passed redistricting referendum, dealing a major blow to Democrats who had hoped to pick up several seats with the new House map.
The redistricting ballot measure passed by a 3-point margin in late April and was seen at the time as a major victory for Democrats, who were on track to gain up to four seats from the redrawn maps ahead of the November midterm elections.
The Virginia Supreme Court’s decision comes amid an ongoing partisan gerrymandering war, with Republican-led states across the South grappling with redrawing their congressional districts in the wake of a pivotal Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act.
“We respect the courts, but we will continue to fight for a democracy where voters, not politicians, have the final say, because in Virginia, power still belongs to the people,” Don Scott, a Democrat and chairman of the Virginia House of Delegates, said in a statement.
This is breaking news. Please refresh to check for updates.
