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The Virginia Supreme Court has invalidated a recently approved redistricting map, disrupting expectations that Democrats would gain a significant advantage in the state’s congressional delegation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The court ruled on Friday that the legislative process used to put the redistricting referendum before voters violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia, rendering the map legally void.
According to the court’s majority opinion, “This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy." The decision means the congressional district maps issued by the court in 2021 will remain in effect for the upcoming 2026 elections.
The invalidated map was narrowly approved by voters in April, with a 51% to 49% margin. It would have allowed the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature to temporarily take over redistricting duties from the state’s nonpartisan commission through 2030, potentially creating a 10–1 Democratic advantage in the state’s U.S. House delegation—up from the current 6–5 split.
Republicans challenged the measure in court soon after its passage. The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments last month, focusing on whether the process used to put the amendment on the ballot followed constitutional requirements. Justice Arthur D. Kelsey, writing for the majority, stated that the state failed to observe the “intervening-election requirement” when submitting the proposed constitutional amendment, which “irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void."
The ruling is considered a significant win for Republicans and President Donald Trump’s allies, who have pushed back against Democratic redistricting efforts nationwide. The Republican National Committee chair, Joe Gruters, praised the decision, calling it a “HUGE WIN” for election integrity.
With the court’s decision, the existing congressional map will remain in place. Several Virginia districts are rated as “safe” or “lean” Republican, maintaining the GOP’s current position in the state’s delegation as the 2026 midterms approach (Democracy Docket).