Virginia Republicans Urge Supreme Court to Keep 2026 Map Blocked After 3-Point Referendum
Updated
Updated · SCOTUSblog · May 15
Virginia Republicans Urge Supreme Court to Keep 2026 Map Blocked After 3-Point Referendum
7 articles · Updated · SCOTUSblog · May 15
A group of Virginia Republican legislators told the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday not to pause the state high court ruling that voided a constitutional amendment clearing the way for a new 2026 congressional map.
Their filing says the case is a state-law dispute, not a federal one, and argues Democrats raised federal claims only after losing in Virginia’s Supreme Court.
The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the amendment on May 8, ruling lawmakers failed to satisfy the constitution’s requirement that an amendment pass in two sessions separated by a House of Delegates election.
More than 1.3 million votes had already been cast when the General Assembly first approved the amendment on Oct. 31, 2025, the court said, invalidating the April referendum that voters had backed by about 3 points.
Democrats had asked the justices on Monday to restore the map before 2026 election preparations advanced, but Republicans say that deadline has already passed and Gov. Abigail Spanberger has indicated the new map will not be used.
When voters approve a new election map, can a court ruling on procedure invalidate the outcome?
How does a landmark Supreme Court ruling on redistricting law now impact Virginia's election map dispute?