This morning, the Virginia State Supreme Court overturned the recently passed redistricting ballot measure led by state Democrats. The court ruled that state Democrats "submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner" in violation of state law, finding that Democrats did not follow proper procedure when rushing to put the measure on the ballot.
The measure would have given Democrats an edge in four more House districts, likely resulting in a 10-1 Democrat-favored split in the state's House delegation.
The decision gives Republicans a clear lead in the mid-cycle redistricting fight being waged across the states, with Republicans likely to pick up at least 10 seats from redrawn lines alone. That figure does not account for redistricting efforts underway in Southern states following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act.
