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Republican redistricting edge widens after Democratic setback in Virginia

A Virginia Supreme Court ruling Friday invalidated a Democrat-led redistricting plan that voters approved last month.

Republican redistricting edge widens after Democratic setback in Virginia

A Virginia Supreme Court ruling Friday invalidated a Democrat-led redistricting plan that voters approved last month.

*** major setback for Democrats after the state Supreme Court in Virginia struck down *** redistricting plan. That voters there approved just last month. The court ruled 4 to 3 that the Democrat-led legislature in Virginia violated procedural requirements, effectively tossing out the results of the ballot measure. Now Virginia Democrats are planning to file an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court as President Trump celebrated Friday's ruling as *** huge win for the Republican Party and America, as he put it. Indeed, the GOP's edge in this redistricting race that was kicked off by the president is widening now. Republicans now think they can win up to 14 House seats from redrawn districts across several states, while expected Democratic gains have now been cut down to 6 seats due to that ruling out of Virginia. And there's *** renewed push meanwhile from the GOP. After that recent US Supreme Court decision paved the way for states to potentially eliminate majority black districts that often favored Democrats, on Friday, for example, Alabama lawmakers passed *** plan to set new primaries if courts allow the state to use new district lines in this year's midterm elections. Reporting at the White House, I'm Jackie DeFusco.
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Updated: 8:03 AM EDT May 9, 2026
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Republican redistricting edge widens after Democratic setback in Virginia

A Virginia Supreme Court ruling Friday invalidated a Democrat-led redistricting plan that voters approved last month.

Washington News Bureau logo
Updated: 8:03 AM EDT May 9, 2026
Editorial Standards
The Republican edge in the multistate redistricting race widened Friday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-led redistricting plan that was approved by voters just last month. The court ruled 4-3 that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature violated procedural requirements during the constitutional amendment process, effectively scrapping the results of the ballot measure. Virginia Democrats criticized the ruling for casting aside the will of voters and vowed to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.President Donald Trump called the decision a "huge win for the Republican Party, and America." The GOP's advantage in the redistricting race, first initiated by Trump in Texas, is growing. Republicans now believe that the party could gain as many as 14 House seats from redrawn districts across several states. Expected Democratic gains have been reduced to six, down from the 10 seats anticipated before Friday's ruling in Virginia. The Republican push has only intensified following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that could allow states to eliminate majority-Black districts, which often favor Democrats. On Friday, Alabama lawmakers passed a plan to set new primary elections in some cases if courts permit them to use revised districts in this year’s midterms. Other southern states are also making moves on redistricting. Tennessee enacted new congressional districts Thursday, splitting up a Black-majority district in Memphis — currently the only Democratic-controlled seat in the state. Democrats in Tennessee are suing to block the change, partly citing concerns over the tight election timeline. Another legal battle is playing out in Louisiana, where the governor suspended congressional primaries to give Republicans more time to revise House districts. Meanwhile, South Carolina is considering a new map that, if adopted, could help Republicans win all seven House seats in the state. There is concern, however, that gerrymandering could backfire. By spreading out Republican voters, some fear that certain GOP districts that are currently considered safe could become more competitive, particularly if there were to be a "blue wave" this fall.

The Republican edge in the multistate redistricting race widened Friday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-led redistricting plan that was approved by voters just last month.

The court ruled 4-3 that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature violated procedural requirements during the constitutional amendment process, effectively scrapping the results of the ballot measure.

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Virginia Democrats criticized the ruling for casting aside the will of voters and vowed to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump called the decision a "huge win for the Republican Party, and America."

The GOP's advantage in the redistricting race, first initiated by Trump in Texas, is growing.

Republicans now believe that the party could gain as many as 14 House seats from redrawn districts across several states. Expected Democratic gains have been reduced to six, down from the 10 seats anticipated before Friday's ruling in Virginia.

The Republican push has only intensified following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that could allow states to eliminate majority-Black districts, which often favor Democrats.

On Friday, Alabama lawmakers passed a plan to set new primary elections in some cases if courts permit them to use revised districts in this year’s midterms.

Other southern states are also making moves on redistricting. Tennessee enacted new congressional districts Thursday, splitting up a Black-majority district in Memphis — currently the only Democratic-controlled seat in the state. Democrats in Tennessee are suing to block the change, partly citing concerns over the tight election timeline.

Another legal battle is playing out in Louisiana, where the governor suspended congressional primaries to give Republicans more time to revise House districts.

Meanwhile, South Carolina is considering a new map that, if adopted, could help Republicans win all seven House seats in the state.

There is concern, however, that gerrymandering could backfire. By spreading out Republican voters, some fear that certain GOP districts that are currently considered safe could become more competitive, particularly if there were to be a "blue wave" this fall.

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