A Virginia judge on Tuesday blocked a Democrat redistricting plan designed to give the party more seats in Congress.
Judge Jack Hurley Jr., a judge on the Tazewell County circuit court, ruled that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature did not follow procedure to approve a state constitutional amendment on redistricting.
Democrat Speaker Don Scott of the Virginia House of Delegates stated on X following the ruling, “We will appeal immediately, and we expect to prevail. Voters—not politicians—will have the final say.”
In October 2025, the Legislature passed a measure to redraw the state’s congressional map.
In January, under a new Democrat governor, the Legislature finalized a plan to put the issue to voters before the midterm in an April 21 special election. The goal was to lock in heavily Democrat districts before the November midterm elections.
Hurley found that using a special session to pass the measure was not allowed because early voting in last year’s state elections had already begun.
He also found state law requires the lawmakers pass proposed constitutional amendments both before and after an election.