Virginia Democrats’ redistricting push is dealt a setback by state court

CNN ^ | January 27, 2026 | Fredreka Schouten

[MinorityRepublican]

A state court on Tuesday blocked Virginia Democrats’ redistricting effort, delivering a setback to the party’s plans to redraw congressional lines ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Tazewell County Circuit Judge Jack Hurley Jr. ruled that Democrats in the General Assembly failed to follow the correct procedures when they launched a last-minute effort to change the state’s constitution and pave the way for a mid-decade redraw.

Democratic legislative leaders said they intended to immediately appeal the ruling. If the ruling is upheld, however, it delivers a major blow to the party’s hopes of picking up as many as four additional seats in November’s midterms.

The elections will determine which party controls the US House during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s time in office.

Last fall, Democrats who hold majorities in the state legislature undertook the first step in redistricting by passing a proposed constitutional amendment during a special session to pave the way for the new maps. Earlier this month, they finalized those plans by holding a second vote.

Hurley struck down the legislature’s move on several grounds, ruling that lawmakers last year failed to vote on the amendment before the public began casting ballots in the November 2025 election and did not publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by state law.

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TOPICS: US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: democrats; judgewatch; redistricting; virginia

[Republican Wildcat]

Hurley struck down the legislature’s move on several grounds, ruling that lawmakers last year failed to vote on the amendment before the public began casting ballots in the November 2025 election and did not publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by state law.

The "law"???? Oh, come on now...that's so yesterday.

[Just mythoughts]

The liars, cheats, and cons have exposed themselves ... the founding fathers are saying from Heaven these are NOT my people!!!

[chiller]

Appeal, win or lose, appeal to circuit, win or lose, appeal to SC, lose.

did you read your own damn rules, or just ignore them on purpose ?

[vikingd00d]

candidate filing deadline for federal seats is April 2. They can’t redistrict after that for the midterms.

[Dilbert San Diego]

They ignored the law on purpose, gambling that there would not be a court order against them. Now they may have to follow actual legal procedures. Imagine that.....

[NorthMountain]

This ruling was issued by a STATE judge ... so they’ll have to grind it through the STATE court system first. THEN it can grind through the federal court system ... Since they’re violating black-letter State Law, it should go badly for the ‘Rats.

[fella]

Correct Procedures?

Correct Procedures?

We doon need no stink’n Correct Procedures.

[blackdog]

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

H. L. Mencken

[11th_VA]

I heard VA has to hold the referendum to change the state constitution by April 21, 2026 to make the district changes for the fall 2026 elections - they’re running out of time.

[gildafarrell]

That’s good news for now.