In a bombshell decision that will have major implications for the midterm elections this November, the Supreme Court of Virginia invalidated Democrats’ 10-1 map in the Old Dominion, keeping the current map in place for this year.
“On March 6, 2026, the General Assembly of Virginia submitted to Virginia voters a proposed constitutional amendment that authorizes partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts in the Commonwealth,” the decision reads. “We hold that the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia. This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy.”
The ruling represents a stunning reversal of fortune for Virginia Republicans over the course of just a few weeks. On April 21, voters in the state narrowly approved an amendment to the state constitution allowing Democrats to abolish Virginia’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and redraw the state’s U.S. House map. Under the current map, Democrats control six seats and Republicans control five seats. The proposed new map likely would have cemented a 10-1 Democrat advantage. Now, the 6-5 map almost certainly will remain in place for at least 2026.
In the wake of the ruling, Democrats have predictably cried that the court is overturning the will of the voters in Virginia. But as AMAC Newsline previously reported, Democrats appeared to have committed multiple clear violations of the Virginia Constitution in ramming the amendment through the legislature, as Republicans argued in court.
According to the Virginia Constitution, proposed amendments must pass the General Assembly, then a general election must occur, and then the same amendment must pass the General Assembly again before it goes to voters.
But Democrats passed the redistricting amendment in a special session last October – after early voting had already begun for the general election in November. By the time the amendment had passed, more than a million ballots had already been cast, violating both the letter and the spirit of the Virginia Constitution.
Democrats argued that “election” means Election Day. Republicans countered that an election starts when voting starts. The court sided with Republicans, writing that “this violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void.”
“Early Virginia voters unknowingly forfeited their constitutionally protected opportunity to vote for or against delegates who favor or disfavor amending the Constitution by not anticipating a legislative vote on a constitutional amendment four days before the last day of voting,” the court continued.
Republicans are celebrating the ruling as a major victory and a huge boost for their hopes of retaining control of the House this November. “The Supreme Court ruling today confirms what we all know: you cannot violate the Constitution to change the Constitution,” Virginia Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle said in a statement. “This ruling is not a partisan one – it is a constitutional one. The rule of law is the foundation of our Commonwealth, and today it has been upheld.”
Virginia Democrats for their part appeared outraged but resigned to the ruling. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said that his party will “respect the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia.”
But perhaps the biggest loser of the day was Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, who had been the most vocal proponent of the 10-1 map despite concerns from some other high-profile Virginia Democrats. Lucas was already in the headlines this week following an FBI raid on her businesses as part of a sweeping federal corruption probe.
With ongoing redistricting efforts in red states, Republicans suddenly appear poised to come out ahead in the national redistricting wars.
Shane Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
