Virginia Court Clears April 21 Redistricting Referendum
State Supreme Court allowed an April 21 referendum on mid‑decade redistricting that could raise Democrats from six House seats toward nine or 10, while appeals continue.
Overview
The Virginia Supreme Court said the April 21 statewide referendum on mid-decade congressional redistricting can proceed while it considers appeals.
Republicans had won a Jan. 27 Tazewell Circuit Court ruling that voided the amendment on procedural grounds, prompting a Democratic appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Democratic leaders hailed the decision as court backing to hold the referendum, while Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore said Republicans will continue to challenge it in court and urge voters to reject it.
Democrats now hold six of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House seats, and the proposed map could add up to four seats, increasing the delegation to roughly nine or 10 members.
The state Supreme Court set opening briefs due March 23 and final filings due April 23 and said oral arguments would be scheduled after the April 21 referendum.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the ruling as a Democratic victory and strategic countermove, using evaluative terms (boost, victory, heavily favors) and emphasizing seat gains and national stakes. Those editorial choices foreground Democratic aims; Republican objections (e.g., "power grab") appear as source content but receive less structural emphasis.
Sources (14)
FAQ
The referendum asks Virginia voters to approve a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade redistricting to redraw congressional districts, potentially creating 10 Democratic-favoring districts and 1 Republican-favoring district out of 11 total.
Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled on January 27 that the amendment was invalid due to procedural failures: not following special session rules, initial vote after ballots were cast in the prior election, and failure to publish the amendment three months before the election.
Referendum is April 21, 2026; early voting starts March 6; voter registration deadline April 14; absentee ballot deadline April 10; court briefs due March 23 (opening) and April 23 (final); oral arguments after the vote.
Democrats, including House Speaker Don Scott, hailed it as affirming voters' say and a win for proceeding; Republicans, like Terry Kilgore and Ryan McDougle, called it gerrymandering, plan to challenge in court and urge voters to reject it.
History
6 sources