Virginia redistricting: State will use old congressional map for midterms, governor says
Democracy Docket • • nation
Key Points:
- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced that the state will conduct its 2026 congressional elections using the current 2021 map, despite ongoing legal challenges to a voter-approved redistricting referendum.
- Spanberger cited the state's May 12 deadline for map changes, indicating that election preparations are moving forward under the existing districts regardless of the Supreme Court's pending decision.
- The U.S. Supreme Court is considering an emergency request to pause a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the redistricting referendum, which Democrats hoped would create a 10-1 advantage in the U.S. House delegation.
- Spanberger expressed disappointment over the state Supreme Court ruling but emphasized the need to focus on winning upcoming elections and encouraged officials to reassure voters that their participation remains important.
- The setback for Democrats comes amid broader Republican-led gerrymandering efforts in the South following the Supreme Court's reduction of Voting Rights Act protections, limiting Democrats' ability to implement new maps in Virginia.