Judge finds redistricting resolution introduced by Virginia Democrats illegal on technical grounds

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment allowing Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional maps is illegal, potentially thwarting their efforts to gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. wrote in a court order that the constitutional amendment proposed by lawmakers was invalid due to a technicality under state law that stipulates that such proposals must be passed and published by the clerk’s office at least three months before the general election.

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In October, lawmakers introduced a mid-decade redistricting resolution less than a week before their statewide election.

The judge also said the Democratic-led Legislature failed to follow its own rules in adding the redistricting amendment to a special session, calling it a “blatant abuse of power.” As a result, he said the amendment was null and void.

Virginians for Fair Elections, a campaign that supports the redistricting decision, said in a statement that it expects to appeal.

“Republicans are looking to the court for a ruling because litigation and disinformation are the only tools they have left,” campaign manager Keren Charles Dongo said. “We are prepared for what comes next, and Virginians deserve the right to vote and a level playing field.”

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Across the country, an unusual mid-decade redistricting battle has so far yielded nine additional seats that Republicans believe they can win in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Meanwhile, Democrats believe they can win six more due to redistricting in California and Utah.

Democrats hope to completely or partially offset that three-seat margin in Virginia.

As in Virginia, the redistricting process is still being litigated in many states, and there is no guarantee that parties will win the seats they redrawn.