The Virginia Supreme Court has struck down a Democratic-backed congressional redistricting plan that could have flipped four Republican-held US House seats, delivering a major victory to Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.
The court ruled in a 4-3 decision that Virginia’s Democratic-led legislature failed to follow proper constitutional procedures when placing the referendum on the ballot.
The decision invalidates a measure narrowly approved by voters in an April 21 special election and preserves the congressional map used during the 2024 elections.
Republicans hailed the ruling as a significant win in the broader nationwide battle over congressional district boundaries, while Democrats vowed to continue challenging the decision through legal avenues.
The court found that Democratic lawmakers violated state law by advancing the constitutional amendment without a valid intervening election between legislative approvals, a requirement under Virginia law.
Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote that Democrats “submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner” that violated legal procedures.
The referendum had passed by a 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent margin, according to an Associated Press tally.
A county judge had already blocked certification of the results one day after the vote, describing the ballot language as “flagrantly misleading.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, calling it a “huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia.”
US House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised the ruling, saying it ensured “fair representation in Congress.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the decision and said Democrats were “exploring all options to overturn this shocking decision.”
The ruling intensifies an ongoing nationwide redistricting battle that has escalated since the US Supreme Court recently weakened key provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
Republican-led states including Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida are moving to redraw congressional maps, while Democrats have responded with their own efforts in states such as California and Virginia.
Under the now-invalidated Virginia map, Democrats had hoped to secure a 10-1 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation.
Instead, the current 6-5 split between Democrats and Republicans is expected to remain in place for the midterms.
Analysts and party officials view the Virginia decision as strengthening Republican efforts to maintain control of the US House, where Republicans can afford to lose only two net seats in November.