Virginia court declines to block Democrats from using new voter-approved congressional map

By Matthew Kupfer

UNITED STATES - MARCH 31: A sign urges early voters to vote yes on the Virginia redistricting referendum at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Early voting continues across the state for Virginia's redistricting ballot referendum held to counter the Texas redistricting for the 2026 midterm elections. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

A Virginia circuit court has refused to block the implementation of Democrats’ new congressional map, which voters approved in a statewide special election last week. 

The order comes in one of several Republican lawsuits aiming to overturn redistricting in the state. 

In February, the Virginia legislature passed a new congressional map, contingent on voter approval, in an effort to counteract President Donald Trump’s push to use unprecedented mid-decade gerrymanders in GOP-led states to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 midterm election. The new map could give Democrats up to four more seats in Congress.

In the lawsuit in question, the Republican National Committee (RNC) alleged that the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature exceeded its authority when it passed a constitutional amendment on redistricting. The RNC also argued that Democrats’ proposed “10-1 map” did not comply with compactness requirements under the state constitution. They asked the court to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the map’s use.

But the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond concluded that the Virginia General Assembly indeed had plenary authority to pass such legislation. It also found that, while the new map was less compact than its predecessor, the issue of compactness was “fairly debatable” and the RNC’s claim was unlikely to succeed.

“Many a tradition and law has been laid down in the advancement of a national quest for political power, and the winds that will blow cannot yet be known. Nonetheless, this Court knows its role is clear. It is not to assess the wisdom of public policy nor to engage in policy making from the bench,” Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland wrote in his order. “Instead, it is to decide if those with whom we have entrusted power have exercised that power in conformance with their constitutional mandate. On this question, the Court’s answer is in the affirmative.”

Significantly, the court also declined to overrule the will of Virginia voters.

“Millions of Virginians voted in an election,” Thorne-Begland wrote. “On the issues raised before this Court, in these early stages of the proceedings, the evidence suggests the election and the proceedings leading to it were conducted in conformance with the applicable constitutional and legal principles and controlling authorities. As such it is in the public interests to allow the amendment to take effect. Granting the extraordinary relief requested would imperil the public interests.”

Despite this court win, legal battles over redistricting in Virginia will continue.

Just a day after Virginians voted in favor of redistricting, a judge in ruby red Tazewell County ruled that the legislature’s constitutional amendment and the referendum on it were invalid, preventing the state from implementing the new congressional districts. The judge also issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from certifying the election results. 

Virginia is currently appealing the ruling.

And on Monday, the Virginia Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that will help determine whether Democrats can go forward with redistricting. Democracy Docket will be providing live coverage of the arguments.