{"id":17351,"date":"2026-01-29T13:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/?p=17351"},"modified":"2026-01-29T13:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:15:26","slug":"court-blocks-virginia-democrat-redistricting-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/?p=17351","title":{"rendered":"Court Blocks Virginia Democrat Redistricting Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Reading Time:<\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A Virginia judge on Tuesday blocked a Democrat redistricting plan designed to give the party more seats in Congress.\n<\/p>\n

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Judge Jack Hurley Jr., a judge on the Tazewell County circuit court,\u00a0ruled that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature\u00a0did not follow procedure to approve a state constitutional amendment on redistricting.\n<\/p>\n

Democrat Speaker Don Scott of the Virginia House of Delegates\u00a0stated\u00a0on X following the ruling, \u201cWe will appeal immediately, and we expect to prevail. Voters\u2014not politicians\u2014will have the final say.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: A Virginia Judge just issued an injunction against the Democratic effort to redistrict the state and ruled that it isn\u2019t valid for a referendum until after the 2027 election. pic.twitter.com\/eZsbkGMn61<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In October 2025, the Legislature passed a measure to redraw the state\u2019s congressional map.\n<\/p>\n

In January, under a new Democrat governor, the Legislature finalized a plan to put the issue to voters before the midterm in an April 21 special election. The goal was to lock in heavily Democrat districts before the November midterm elections.\n<\/p>\n

Hurley found that using a special session to pass the measure was not allowed because early voting in last year\u2019s state elections had already begun.\n<\/p>\n

He also found state law requires the lawmakers pass proposed constitutional amendments both before and after an election.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, the court find FINDS that following the October 31, 2025 vote and passage of House Joint Resolution 6007, there has not been an ensuing general election of the House of Delegates, and such ensuing general election cannot occur until 2027,\u201d the judge wrote.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThus, the action of the General Assembly during its Regular Session 2026 CANNOT meet the second passage required of Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution, which second passage must occur before the same can be submitted to the voters of Virginia for adoption,\u201d he continued.\n<\/p>\n

In October, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican, told The Daily Signal this might be a legal problem for Democrats because the 2025 election early voting already began on Sept. 19, before the October special session.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next intervening election likely can\u2019t happen until 2027, so the earliest this can go to the ballot is 2028,\u201d\u00a0Cuccinelli said. \u201cDo they really want this fought out on a presidential year ballot?\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Virginia Republican state Sen. Ryan McDougle is the plaintiff in the case. Scott, the Democrat House speaker, is the defendant.\n<\/p>\n

Democrats have a trifecta in Virginia after retaking the governor\u2019s office in November with Abigail Spanberger\u2019s victory.\n<\/p>\n

Virginia currently has a bipartisan redistricting commission.\n<\/p>\n

Scott stated, \u201cWe always knew this would be a fight\u2014 because this has never been about what\u2019s easy. It\u2019s about what\u2019s right: leveling the playing field and protecting the right to vote.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Jason Miyares, former Republican attorney general of Virginia, praised the court for finding \u201cthat the General Assembly cannot sidestep constitutional accountability in pursuit of partisan gain\u201d in a\u00a0post\u00a0on X.\n<\/p>\n

What do you think of this ruling? Share your thoughts and prayers below.<\/h4>\n

This article was originally published by The Daily Signal. Photo Credit: Chalirmpoj Pimpisarn\/Getty Images via Canva Teams.<\/em>
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