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The Guardian World1 min read
Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan in US
TL;DR
The Virginia Supreme Court has invalidated a Democratic redistricting plan aimed at flipping four Republican congressional seats, declaring the process unconstitutional. This ruling undermines the recent voter-approved amendment and strengthens Republican prospects ahead of the midterm elections.
Key points
- Virginia Supreme Court invalidated Democratic redistricting plan
- Court ruled procedural requirements were violated
- Ruling nullifies recent voter-approved amendment
- Strengthens Republican prospects in midterm elections
- Part of a nationwide battle over congressional redistricting
Virginia’s top court has thrown out a new electoral map that was crafted to flip four Republican-held US congressional seats to Democrats, handing President Donald Trump’s party a victory in the run-up to the November midterm elections.
The court ruled that the state’s Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot to authorise the mid-decade redistricting. Voters narrowly approved the amendment on April 21, but the court’s ruling renders the results of that vote meaningless.
“This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void,” the court said in its opinion.
Democrats had hoped to win as many as four additional US House seats under Virginia’s redrawn map, as part of an attempt to offset Republican redistricting elsewhere at the urging of President Donald Trump. That ruling, combined with a recent US Supreme Court decision severely weakening the Voting Rights Act, has supercharged the Republicans’ congressional gerrymandering advantage heading into this year’s midterm elections.
The ruling could bolster Republican hopes of keeping their majority in the US House in the midterms. Democrats pursued the Virginia measure as part of a nationwide battle over redrawing US district boundaries that the Republican president initiated last year.
In its ruling, the Virginia court agreed with Republican claims that the state’s Democratic-majority legislature did not follow proper procedure in approving the referendum before it was put to the voters. A day after the referendum, a county judge blocked the state from certifying the results, calling the ballot language “flagrantly misleading”.
Trump reacted to the decision on Truth Social, calling it a ‘huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia.”
“The Virginia Supreme Court has just struck down the Democrats’ horrible gerrymander. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J TRUMP.”
Republican advantage
The Virginia court’s ruling adds to Republican momentum in the redistricting fight. It came on the heels of the US Supreme Court ruling, powered by its conservative majority, that eviscerated a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for Republican-led Southern states to dismantle Democratic-held majority-Black and majority-Latino districts. Black and Latino voters tend to support Democratic candidates.
Already, Republican-controlled states, such as Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, have taken steps towards drawing new maps in time for the November elections, even postponing party primary elections to give lawmakers time.
Q&A
What did the Virginia Supreme Court rule regarding the redistricting plan?
The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the Democratic-led redistricting plan, stating it violated procedural requirements.
How does the ruling affect the midterm elections for Republicans?
The ruling enhances Republican chances of maintaining their majority in the US House by invalidating a map that could have added Democratic seats.
What was the voter response to the constitutional amendment for redistricting?
Voters narrowly approved the constitutional amendment on April 21, but the court's ruling renders that vote null and void.
What implications does this ruling have on gerrymandering in the US?
The ruling, alongside a recent US Supreme Court decision, strengthens the Republicans' gerrymandering advantage in the ongoing battle over congressional district boundaries.
