Virginia Democrats ask Supreme Court to reinstate congressional map struck down by state high court
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Virginia Democrats have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a new voter-approved congressional map designed to favor Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections, after it was blocked by the Virginia Supreme Court.
- The state Supreme Court ruled that the legislative process used to place the constitutional amendment on the ballot violated the state constitution, preventing the new map from taking effect.
- The Democrats argue that the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling disregards both the commonwealth's constitution and state statutes, depriving voters and candidates of their rights to the lawfully enacted districts.
- This redistricting effort in Virginia follows similar mid-decade map changes in states like Texas and California, where new maps are expected to benefit Republicans and Democrats respectively.
- While Virginia Democrats plan to file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, it is unlikely the court will intervene, as it generally does not review state supreme courts' interpretations of their own constitutions.