Virginia Supreme Court to hear GOP bid to block voter-approved redistricting

The Virginia Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Monday at 9 a.m. ET in a case that will help determine whether Democrats can go forward with the redistricting plan approved by voters Tuesday. 

Democracy Docket will be providing live coverage of the arguments in McDougle v. Nardo on this page. Have questions about Virginia’s redistricting? Ask us here.

Under the plan, Virginia would implement a “10-1” electoral map that could win Democrats four more seats in Congress and help counteract President Donald Trump’s unprecedented mid-decade gerrymanders across the United States.

But a group of Republicans sued in October, arguing that Democratic lawmakers violated certain procedural rules in passing the constitutional amendment on redistricting they put on the ballot, which was needed to conduct a mid-decade redistricting. A lower court judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in January. The appeal will now be heard by the Virginia Supreme Court.

In practical terms, Republicans are now asking the state’s highest court to overrule the will of the voters. 

The justices signaled some openness to Democrats’ arguments when the case first made its way up to the court in February. The state’s highest court avoided addressing the merits of the parties’ arguments at the time, but ruled that the election could proceed while the litigation was still ongoing. 

Two additional lawsuits filed by Republicans remain pending: A challenge to the new map itself has not yet been decided by the circuit court. And the Virginia Supreme Court has certified another procedural challenge to the referendum for review.

Last year, Trump called on Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps in a bid to help the GOP maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.

Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina quickly answered the call and drew new maps. In November, California voters overwhelmingly approved a new map that could give Democrats five more seats in Congress and cancel out the GOP’s gains from the Texas gerrymander. 

Now, the Florida legislature is scheduled to take up redistricting Tuesday in a bid to cancel out Democrats’ gains in Virginia, which — at the moment — now give them a national advantage over Republicans. 

Come back Monday at 9 a.m. ET for live insights as the Virginia Supreme Court hears arguments in the redistricting case.