The United States Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia's bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives. The order, issued without any noted dissent, represents the latest development in the nation's mid-decade redistricting competition.
Background of the Redistricting Dispute
The redistricting battle was ignited last year when former President Donald Trump urged Republican-controlled states to redraw their electoral lines. It was further fueled by a recent Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act, opening up additional winnable seats for the Republican Party. In recent days, the justices have sided with Republicans in Alabama and Louisiana who sought to redo their congressional maps to produce more Republican-leaning districts following the court's voting rights decision.
However, the Virginia situation was distinct. It originated from a 4-3 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court that struck down a constitutional amendment narrowly passed by voters just last month. The state court determined that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had already commenced in Virginia's general election last fall.
Legal Arguments and Federal Law
The U.S. Supreme Court typically refrains from intervening in state court proceedings unless they involve a federal law issue. Virginia Democrats had hoped to persuade the justices that the Virginia court misread federal law and Supreme Court precedent, which hold that even if early voting is underway, an election does not officially occur until Election Day itself. The rejected amendment was intended as a response to Republican gains in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, and to counteract a new map in Florida that recently became law. When the Virginia amendment passed, it briefly created a draw between the two parties in the nationwide redistricting scramble, but that equilibrium was undone by the Virginia Supreme Court's decision.
Political Implications and Reactions
It is possible that Democrats could use the high court's rejection of their bid, while simultaneously blessing Republican efforts in Alabama and Louisiana, as part of election-year messaging criticizing a partisan Supreme Court. The state's top Democrats expressed disagreement over whether it was too late to seek help from the Supreme Court. In a brief filed Friday, lawyers for the Democratic leaders of the legislature and the state argued, "Time grows short, but it is not yet too late." However, a day earlier, the office of Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger confirmed that the state would hold this year's elections under the current districts established in 2021. Last month, Virginia Commissioner of Elections Steve Koski stated that a court order was needed by the past Tuesday to set district lines for primary elections scheduled for August 4.
The leader of the state's Republican party praised the justices' decision. "Wisely, the Supreme Court of the United States has confirmed the judgment of the Supreme Court of Virginia," said state party chair Jeff Ryer. "This should once and for all put to rest the Democrats' effort to disenfranchise half of Virginia."
