Virginia Supreme Court tosses out congressional map that favoured Democrats

On Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court threw out a congressional redistricting referendum approved by voters last month, dealing a setback to Democrats who were aiming for a more favorable map to boost their chances of winning additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The decision overturns voters’ approval of a new congressional map that would have given Democrats an advantage in 10 House districts, leaving just one safe Republican seat. Although both of Virginia’s U.S. senators are Democrats, its House delegation is split with six Democratic representatives and five Republican representatives. 

“We hold that the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia,” the opinion says. “This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy.” 

Virginia Senate Republican Leader Ryan T. McDougle praised the court’s decision in Scott v. McDougle.

“The Supreme Court ruling today affirms what we all know: you cannot violate the Constitution to change the Constitution,” McDougle said. “The justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia after careful and thorough review of this matter affirmed that even the General Assembly must follow the law.”

Democratic Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott said, “We respect the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia. I’m proud that Virginians came out in historic numbers, made their voices heard, and sent a message not just here at home — but across the country — to Donald Trump and his administration.”

For his part, President Trump praised the decision as a “huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia.”

Several states are in the process of redrawing their congressional maps after Texas, in 2025, attempted to redistrict in a way that favored Republicans. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, revealed plans to revamp the Golden State’s map. Since then, states led by both Republicans and Democrats have turned to their legislatures to push for updated district lines.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia alluded to the nationwide redistricting fight in a statement following the court decision. 

He said, “Unlike GOP-led states that redrew their congressional maps behind closed doors, Virginia let the people have their say. But the Virginia Supreme Court blocked that choice. So now we have to campaign and win using their maps. We’ve got this!”