Judge Stops Virginia’s New Congressional Map Plan

A judge in Virginia halted the state’s attempt to change congressional districts after a public vote that had passed just yesterday. The ruling declares all votes in the referendum invalid and stops officials from certifying or implementing the new maps. The judge said the ballot measure violated state constitutional rules, specifically missing a required 90‑day notice period and presenting voters with misleading questions. Virginia’s Democratic attorney general plans to appeal, arguing that the people’s choice should not be overridden by a judge.The Republican National Committee praised the decision, calling it a win for Virginians and accusing Democrats of trying to manipulate district lines. The ballot measure had been designed to allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s House map, overriding a 2020 bipartisan commission. The proposed maps would have made ten of eleven seats lean Democratic, largely by splitting up heavily Democratic suburbs around Washington. Virginia’s redistricting fight is part of a national trend, with other states like Texas, California, Missouri, and North Carolina also facing legal battles over new district lines.