VIRGINIA — The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday blocked a new Democratic-drawn congressional map from taking effect, ruling that Democratic lawmakers did not meet the procedural requirements to place the constitutional amendment on the ballot. The court concluded that the state legislature began the constitutional amendment process too late, rendering the April 21 referendum vote null and void.

Virginia voters had narrowly approved the redistricting referendum in a statewide vote on April 21, with about three million ballots cast in a special election that cost tens of millions of dollars. The new congressional map approved by voters would have given Democrats an advantage in 10 House districts and left one safe Republican seat. Democrats had sought a map designed to give their party up to four new U.S. House seats. Virginia's U.S. House delegation currently consists of six Democratic representatives and five Republican representatives.

"We hold that the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia," the court opinion says. The Virginia Constitution requires a constitutional amendment to pass through two consecutive legislative sessions with an election in between before being placed on the ballot.

Justice Arthur Kelsey criticized the state for arguing the court could not rule after voters had approved the amendment and noted that Commonwealth's attorneys had also argued against any pre-election ruling. Earlier, a county judge had blocked the state from certifying the results of the April 21 referendum, calling the ballot language flagrantly misleading.

Virginia Senate Republican Leader Ryan T. McDougle welcomed the ruling. "The Supreme Court ruling today affirms what we all know: you cannot violate the Constitution to change the Constitution. The justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia after careful and thorough review of this matter affirmed that even the General Assembly must follow the law," McDougle said.

Jason Miyares, a co-chair of Virginians for Fair Maps, which opposed the Democratic redraw effort, also praised the decision. "Virginians spoke loud and clear in 2020 that voters should pick their elected officials, not the other way around. Today, their voices were heard over the shamefully deceptive rhetoric and language of an unconstitutional effort by Richmond Democrats to carve up the state for themselves," Miyares said.

The Virginia ruling comes as several states have moved to redraw congressional boundaries following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning racial gerrymandering regulations in the Voting Rights Act. Texas attempted in 2025 to redraw its congressional map to be more favorable to Republicans, and Republican-controlled states including Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee have taken steps to draw new congressional maps since that decision. Republicans could gain as many as 14 U.S. House seats from redrawn maps across six states so far, compared to six for Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of at least three U.S. House seats in November to flip the House majority.