RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia voters approved a mid-decade redistricting referendum Tuesday, a move that could hand Democrats up to four additional U.S. House seats in the November midterms. The measure bypasses the state’s bipartisan commission, allowing the Democratic-led General Assembly to draw new congressional maps.
However, the public vote may not be final. The Virginia Supreme Court is weighing whether the plan is illegal, a decision that could render the referendum results meaningless.
The outcome marks a setback for former President Donald Trump, who had pushed Republican-led states like Texas to redraw districts to protect the narrow House GOP majority. Democratic leaders celebrated the vote as a counterweight. “Virginia just changed the trajectory of the 2026 midterms,” said state House Speaker Don Scott. The court’s ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
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