Virginia Democrats Appeal Map Ruling to U.S. Supreme Court After Justices Voided Voter-Approved Districts
Updated
Updated · Slate · May 11
Virginia Democrats Appeal Map Ruling to U.S. Supreme Court After Justices Voided Voter-Approved Districts
10 articles · Updated · Slate · May 11
Virginia Democratic lawmakers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after the state high court struck down voter-approved election districts designed to curb partisan gerrymandering.
The appeal comes after Democrats rejected a more aggressive proposal to lower the mandatory judicial retirement age to 54, a move that could have forced out the entire Virginia Supreme Court.
The ruling could still be revisited in 2027, when the legislature is set to replace Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, the author of the decision, potentially allowing the map to be restored before the 2028 election.
The fight reflects a broader national pattern in which Republicans in states including Utah, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina have reshaped courts or judicial rules after judges challenged partisan maps.
When courts invalidate election maps, what power do legislatures have to challenge the judges themselves?
Virginia Supreme Court Voids Voter-Approved Redistricting, Securing GOP Edge for 2026 and Fueling National Map Wars
Overview
In May 2026, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved redistricting amendment, reshaping the state's political landscape ahead of the midterm elections. The court focused on procedural errors by the General Assembly, specifically the timing of the amendment's approval during early voting, which did not follow the required constitutional process. Because the redistricting commission was created by a constitutional amendment, any new district maps also needed to follow this strict process. As a result, the existing congressional map will remain in place, giving Republicans a clear advantage and sparking national debate over election law and partisan redistricting.