Virginia Supreme Court Invalidates Voter-Approved Redistricting Map

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday invalidated a new redistricting map approved by voters, handing Republicans a major win before the 2026 midterm elections.

"We hold that the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia," the court said in its ruling. "This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy."

The court heard oral arguments last month on the congressional map, which passed by a slim 51% to 49% margin.

The ballot measure would have shifted temporary redistricting authority through 2030 from the state's nonpartisan commission to the Democrat-controlled legislature. It was projected to create a 10-1 Democratic advantage in Virginia's congressional delegation, improving on their current 6-5 lead.

Republicans filed suit right away to stop it, leading to last month's arguments before the state supreme court.

RNC chair Joe Gruters hailed the decision Friday on social media as a "HUGE WIN" for election integrity. "This was a clear violation of the Constitution — that’s why the RNC stepped in to stop Democrats’ rigged maps and WON!" he said.

Virginia stands as a key battleground in the ongoing redistricting disputes between President Donald Trump, GOP lawmakers and Democrats.

Trump proposed a mid-decade congressional redistricting push last spring to counter the "blue wave" that flipped the House to Democrats in the 2018 midterms during his first term. The plan sought to redraw maps in GOP-led states like Texas to bolster the House majority against midterm losses that typically hit the party in power.

Last summer, Trump said of his effort to add Republican-leaning seats nationwide, "Texas will be the biggest one. And that’ll be five."