Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Democrat-Backed Redistricting Map in Win for Trump, GOP

President Donald Trump and Republicans praised the Virginia Supreme Court's decision Friday to strike down a state congressional redistricting ballot measure passed by voters last month. The ruling dealt a major setback to Democrats seeking gains in the U.S. House.

"Huge win for the Republican Party," Trump said in a social media post minutes after the decision. The map drawn by the Virginia legislature would have created four more left-leaning House districts before this year's midterm elections, where Republicans defend their narrow majority.

The Virginia ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision by its conservative majority to limit a key Voting Rights Act protection. Both developments aid Trump and the GOP in battles with Democrats over congressional maps ahead of midterms, with House control at stake during the final two years of Trump's second term.

In Virginia, the current map from the 2024 elections will remain for 2026 races. Democrats hold a 6-5 edge in the state's U.S. House delegation. The overturned map could have given them a 10-1 advantage.

House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York said, "We are exploring all options to overturn this shocking decision." He added, "No matter what it takes, House Democrats will win in November so we can help rescue this nation from the extremism being unleashed by Donald Trump and Republicans."

Redistricting fights continue in several states.

In Louisiana, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the state's congressional map unconstitutional for relying on race, reshaping the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Last week, the court made the decision effective immediately. GOP-controlled lawmakers began hearings Friday to redraw the map. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, a Trump ally, delayed the May 16 House primaries. Republicans aim to eliminate one or both Black-majority seats held by Democrats.

Tennessee Republicans acted swiftly. The GOP-led legislature adopted a new map Thursday that eliminates the state's only Democratic congressional district, potentially giving Republicans all nine seats. Gov. Bill Lee signed it into law. Rep. Steve Cohen, who holds the majority-Black district, said on social media, "Trump knows he HAS TO rig the game to keep his majority in November. And the TN GOP was willing to go along with it. It’s shameful. Next stop is the courts."

In Alabama, GOP supermajorities in both legislative chambers advanced new maps during a special session called by Gov. Kay Ivey. The maps could eliminate one or both of the state's two Democratic-leaning House districts. Any new map requires U.S. Supreme Court approval, as redistricting is blocked until 2030.

South Carolina's GOP legislature reconvenes Monday for a special session to consider a map that could unseat Rep. Jim Clyburn, the delegation's sole Democrat.

Georgia Republicans split over Gov. Brian Kemp's refusal to call a special session. The state's primary is May 19, with early voting underway.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that redraws congressional districts, adding four Republican-leaning seats by targeting Democratic ones. Republicans hold a 20-8 majority there.

The effort began last spring when Trump proposed mid-decade redistricting to protect the GOP House majority after Democrats won it in 2018. Last summer, he told reporters Texas would gain the most seats, up to five. Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session, but Democrats fled the state for two weeks to block quorum.

California voters passed Proposition 50 in November, shifting map-drawing from a nonpartisan commission to the Democratic legislature and adding five Democratic-leaning districts.

Republicans in Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina also drew new maps. A Utah judge rejected a GOP map last year and approved one creating a Democratic-leaning district. Indiana Senate Republicans defied Trump by killing a redistricting bill in December; five were ousted by Trump-backed challengers in last week's primary.