A divided Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that commonwealth Democrats unlawfully engineered a referendum on new congressional maps, declaring House districts approved by voters last month to be “null and void.”
The 4-3 decision restores the old district lines put in place after the 2020 census.
A map of Virginia’s current congressional districts, with districts 1-7 in shades of red and 8-10 in shades of blue. Social Good Fund for Dave's RedistrictingThe proposed congressional map in Virginia. Social Good Fund for Dave's Redistricting
Virginia is currently represented by six Democrats and five Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Analysts said the map pushed by state Democrats and narrowly approved in the April 21 referendum would have given them 10 of the commonwealth’s 11 House seats, bolstering Democratic odds of retaking the chamber in November.
