Virginia supreme court strikes down new congressional maps in win for Republicans

"Virginia's supreme court on Friday ruled that the state cannot use new congressional maps approved by voters to help Democrats gain as many as four new seats in the US House of Representatives, handing Republicans a major win ahead of November's midterm elections. The court found that the state's general assembly did not follow the appropriate constitutional procedure in approving the map, which voters then passed in a referendum last month. This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy, the court wrote in its decision."

"The ruling is a setback for Democrats' efforts nationwide to counter gerrymanders approved by Republican-led states that may oust Democratic House representatives and boost the odds Donald Trump's allies retain their majority in Congress's lower chamber in the November midterm elections. Texas, North Carolina and Missouri have enacted new maps that could gerrymander as many as seven Democrats out of their districts, while voters in Democratic-led California have approved a new map that could cost the GOP as many as five seats."

"At issue in the case was whether Virginia's Democratic leaders adhered to the state constitution in implementing the new map, which required setting aside a constitutional amendment voters approved in 2020 that was intended to draw maps that represented the Democratic-leaning state's partisan makeup. Virginia's constitution requires that any amendments be approved by both chambers of the general assembly, then approve"

Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled the state cannot use newly approved congressional maps to help Democrats gain additional House seats. The court determined the general assembly did not follow the required constitutional procedure when approving the map that voters later passed in a referendum. The court said the constitutional violation irreparably taints the referendum vote and removes its legal effect. The decision benefits Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections by limiting Democrats’ ability to counter gerrymanders in other states. The ruling also centers on whether Virginia’s Democratic leaders complied with constitutional requirements tied to a 2020 amendment intended to shape district maps around the state’s partisan makeup.

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