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Supreme Court is death knell for Virginia's Democratic-friendly congressional maps
TL;DR
The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Virginia from using a new congressional map that favored Democrats, declaring it null due to procedural violations in the referendum process. This decision undermines Democratic efforts to counter Republican redistricting in the state.
Key points
- U.S. Supreme Court blocked Virginia's new congressional map
- The map favored Democrats in most U.S. House seats
- Supreme Court of Virginia declared the map null due to procedural issues
The U.S. Supreme Court Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The U.S. Supreme Court refused Friday to allow Virginia to use a new congressional map that favored Democrats in all but one of the state's U.S. House seats. The map was a key part of Democrats' effort to counter the Republican redistricting wave set off by President Trump.
The new map was drawn by Democrats and approved by Virginia voters in an April referendum. But on May 8, the Supreme Court of Virginia in a 4-to-3 vote declared the referendum, and by extension the new map, null and void because lawmakers failed to follow the proper procedures to get the issue on the ballot, violating the state constitution.
Virginia Democrats and the state's attorney general then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to put into effect the map approved by the voters, which yields four more likely Democratic congressional seats. In their emergency application, they argued the Virginia Supreme Court was "deeply mistaken" in its decision on "critical issues of federal law with profound practical importance to the Nation." Further, they asserted the decision "overrode the will of the people" by ordering Virginia to "conduct its election with the congressional districts that the people rejected."
Republican legislators countered that it would be improper for the U.S. Supreme Court to wade into a purely state law controversy — especially since the Democrats had not raised any federal claims in the lower court.
Q&A
Why did the Supreme Court block Virginia's new congressional map?
The Supreme Court blocked the map because it was deemed null and void due to lawmakers not following proper procedures to place the issue on the ballot.
What was the significance of the new congressional map for Democrats in Virginia?
The new map was crucial for Democrats as it aimed to secure a majority in Virginia's U.S. House seats amid a Republican redistricting wave.
What were the consequences of the Supreme Court's decision on Virginia's elections?
The decision prevents Democrats from utilizing a favorable map in upcoming elections, potentially impacting their representation in Congress.
