Story perspectives

Virginia Supreme Court Restores 2021 Map, Democrats Keep Six Seats

5/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the amendment process violated the state constitution’s intervening-election requirement, voiding the referendum and reinstating the 2021 congressional map.
The restored map gives Democrats six seats and Republicans five.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the ruling as a huge win for Republican Party and America.
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott said Democrats will seek a stay and petition the U.S. Supreme Court.

History

Historical Context

In 1986 the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Davis v. Bandemer made partisan gerrymandering justiciable, allowing federal review. Later cases such as Vieth (2004) and Gill (2018) could not set a clear standard, and the 2019 Rucho ruling declared the issue a political question, ending federal oversight. Virginia’s 2024 state-court strike of a Republican map shifts the fight to state courts.

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Story summary

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the amendment process violated the state constitution’s intervening-election requirement, voiding the referendum and reinstating the 2021 congressional map.
The restored map gives Democrats six seats and Republicans five.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the ruling as a huge win for Republican Party and America.
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott said Democrats will seek a stay and petition the U.S. Supreme Court.

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