Story perspectives

Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Map Ruling, Destroys $70M Democratic Plan

5/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court denied a request, keeping the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the congressional map.
Virginia Democrats spent $70 million on a map that won 51.7% in the April 21 election, would have turned six Republican seats into ten Democratic seats, and now faces defeat.
Republican leader called House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “power-hungry” and condemned Democrats’ “insane” strategy as parties intensify redistricting battles ahead of the 2026 midterms.

History

Historical Context

The 1964 Supreme Court ruling in Wesberry v. Sanders, building on Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims, required congressional districts to be as equal in population as practicable, limiting deviations to 1 % and spawning over 2,000 subsequent cases. Decades later, Virginia Democrats spent $70 million on a map aimed at flipping six Republican seats, a fight the Court recently refused to hear.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court denied a request, keeping the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the congressional map.
Virginia Democrats spent $70 million on a map that won 51.7% in the April 21 election, would have turned six Republican seats into ten Democratic seats, and now faces defeat.
Republican leader called House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “power-hungry” and condemned Democrats’ “insane” strategy as parties intensify redistricting battles ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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