Judge Blocks Virginia Referendum on Democratic Remap
A Tazewell judge barred preparations for an April 21 referendum on a map Democrats say could flip four U.S. House seats, while litigation and appeals continue in Virginia courts.
Overview
Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. granted a temporary restraining order Thursday that bars officials from preparing for an April 21 referendum on Democrats' redrawn congressional maps, court filings show.
Democrats passed a new congressional map through the Virginia legislature on Friday that they say is designed to help win four additional U.S. House seats.
Republican groups, joined by U.S. Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith, sought the restraining order, and Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones vowed to appeal, according to court filings.
Virginia is currently represented in the U.S. House by six Democrats and five Republicans, and Democrats say the new map could flip four U.S. House seats.
Democrats have appealed the restraining order and the state Supreme Court has picked up their earlier appeal of a January ruling that the referendum was illegally rushed, court filings show.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame coverage as a procedural-legal struggle that highlights Democratic power plays while still quoting both sides. Editorial choices—words like "gerrymandered" and "flex of state Democrats’ political power"—cast Democrats’ move critically, while quoted Republican outrage and Democratic rebuttals remain source content, shaping a contested-but-centric narrative.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Judge Jack Hurley Jr. granted a temporary restraining order blocking preparations for the April 21 referendum based on Republican claims that the constitutional amendment was improperly advanced and that the ballot question was misleading[3]. The Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and two GOP members of Congress filed the lawsuit arguing the amendment was unconstitutional[3]. However, the Virginia Supreme Court subsequently overruled Hurley's decision on February 13, 2026, allowing the referendum to proceed as scheduled[4].
If voters approve the referendum, Democrats' new congressional map would take effect prior to the 2026 congressional elections[4]. The map is designed to flip four U.S. House seats from Republican to Democratic control[1]. Under the proposed amendment, Virginia would temporarily adopt the new congressional districts and then return to the state's standard redistricting process after the 2030 census[1].
Democrats are responding to nationwide Republican gerrymandering efforts initiated by President Donald Trump, who is seeking to stem GOP losses in the 2026 midterms[3][4]. Republican-controlled states including Texas, Ohio, Missouri, and North Carolina have already redrawn their congressional maps to maximize partisan advantage[3]. Virginia's proposed amendment would empower the Democratic-controlled legislature to respond to these Republican-led redistricting efforts[2].
Virginia is currently represented by six Democrats and five Republicans in the U.S. House, with these districts imposed by a court after a bipartisan legislative commission failed to agree on a map following the 2020 census[1]. Under Democrats' proposed new map, the party could gain as many as four additional congressional seats, potentially giving them a 10-1 advantage in House representation.
The Virginia Supreme Court cleared the path for the April 21 referendum to proceed as scheduled on February 13, 2026[4]. The court found that Judge Hurley's temporary restraining order had limited scope and no effect on the referendum date[2]. Early voting for the referendum is set to begin in early March[3], and Governor Abigail Spanberger has indicated she will sign legislation to implement the new map if voters approve it[1].
History
4 sources