The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting effort in a 4-3 ruling on May 8, 2026, finding that a voter-approved mid-decade referendum did not follow proper constitutional procedures. The proposed map would have netted Democrats an estimated four additional U.S. House seats.
Said House Speaker Mike Johnson: "The hastily drawn egregious gerrymander was unconstitutional. This ruling is a victory for democracy and ensures Virginians have fair representation in Congress."
The constitutional order is not a partisan weapon — it belongs to the republic. When either party shortcuts the process to redraw the lines of power, the courts' duty is plain: hold the procedure sacred or the map drawn today becomes the precedent abused tomorrow.