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A Virginia judge struck down Democrats’ proposed constitutional amendment to redraw the state’s congressional districts, threatening the party’s effort to gain U.S. House seats in November. Democratic leaders said they would appeal immediately.
Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled Tuesday that the General Assembly’s actions were invalid on three grounds. He found that lawmakers did not follow their own procedures when adding the amendment to a special session, failed to approve it before voting began in the 2025 general election and did not publish it at least three months before that election as required by law.
Hurley declared the amendment invalid and void.
Lawmakers first advanced the mid-decade redistricting resolution in October, less than a week before statewide elections. The House of Delegates and state Senate approved it for a second time earlier in January, before Gov. Abigail Spanberger officially took office.
The amendment would give the General Assembly limited authority to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts between Jan. 1, 2025, and Oct. 31, 2030. Democratic legislators hoped to place the proposal before voters in an April 21 special referendum.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore and Virginians for Fair Maps honorary co-chair Eric Cantor called the ruling “a decisive victory for the rule of law and Virginia voters.”
They argued that the case centered on constitutional procedure rather than partisanship, saying elections, public notice and established rules must be respected by those in power.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, House Democratic Caucus Chair Kathy Tran and other Democratic lawmakers accused Republicans of using litigation to confuse voters and prevent a referendum. They described the case as court-shopping and said they were confident an appeal would succeed.
Virginians for Fair Elections, which supports the amendment, issued a similar response. Campaign manager Keren Charles Dongo said opponents were attempting to deny Virginians a chance to vote and alter the balance of the state’s congressional map.
Virginia’s dispute is part of a wider mid-decade redistricting fight that began after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw their maps. Republicans believe new maps in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio could produce nine additional seats, while Democrats see opportunities for six more in California and Utah.
Virginia Democrats hoped redistricting in the commonwealth could erase some or all of that projected three-seat Republican advantage. But map disputes remain before courts in several states, and neither party is guaranteed to capture the seats its new districts were designed to make competitive.