The Republican National Committee has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a Virginia referendum that would allow lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade.
Virginia Redistricting Referendum Lawsuit
On Wednesday, the RNC filed suit in a Virginia circuit court to prevent a constitutional amendment from going before voters on April 21, reported The Hill.
The amendment would allow the legislature in Virginia to take over redistricting authority mid-decade. Currently, those powers rest with an independent commission.
In its complaint, the RNC argued that “emergency relief is needed to prevent the transmission of a defective proposal for constitutional amendment to Virginia voters” that violates the state constitution and a prior court order.
The party said a judge in Tazewell County previously ruled Democrats failed to follow proper procedures when advancing the amendment.
RNC Claims Ballot And Timing Violations
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters called the proposal “a blatant abuse of power.”
“Virginia Democrats are trying to ram through an illegal redistricting scheme that a court has already called a blatant abuse of power,” Gruters said in a statement.
He added that Democrats were “ignoring the state Constitution, misleading voters, and rushing a sham election.”
Republicans also contend that the ballot language is misleading and that early voting, set to begin March 6, violates a required 90-day waiting period after legislative approval in January.
Virginia Redistricting Fight Could Flip House Seats
The RNC, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), and two GOP congressmen filed a lawsuit to block a Virginia constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, reported Democracy Docket.
They argued the measure violated procedural rules, ballot requirements, and the 90-day waiting period.
The suit seeks to halt the vote until the amendment meets legal requirements or is reapproved in 2027.
Virginia Democrats unveiled a proposed map that could shift the state’s U.S. House delegation from six Democrats and five Republicans to a likely 10‑1 Democratic majority, reported The Commonwealth Times.
The map splits Richmond and reshapes several districts while preserving a Voting Rights Act district in Hampton Roads.
The April 21 referendum will proceed under a Virginia Supreme Court ruling, though the legal challenge continues. Analysts caution the outcome remains uncertain, as voters could reject the map or courts could block it.
On Monday, in an interview with CNN, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the national Democratic Party is willing to do “whatever it takes” to pass Virginia’s redistricting measure, including spending “10s of millions” to support it.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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