A judge in Virginia put a stop to a plan on Tuesday that would have let Democrats redraw the state’s congressional maps. This ruling might spoil the party’s chance to gain more seats in the U.S. House this coming November.
Judge Jack Hurley Jr. said the legislature’s actions were illegal for three main reasons.
First, he ruled that lawmakers didn’t follow their own rules when they tried to add the redistricting amendment during a special session.
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Second, they didn’t approve the change before people had already started voting in the last general election. Finally, they failed to publish the amendment three months before the election, which is something the law strictly requires. Because of these mistakes, the judge declared the entire amendment invalid.
Supporters of the map changes aren’t giving up just yet. Virginians for Fair Elections, the campaign backing the resolution, released a statement saying they expect an appeal.
Keren Charles Dongo, the campaign manager, told the AP that Republicans were “court-shopping” for a favorable judge because “litigation and misinformation are the only tools they have left.” She added that the group is ready for the next steps and that Virginians deserve a fair playing field.
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This legal fight in Virginia is just one part of a messy battle happening across the country. It is rare to see district lines redrawn in the middle of a decade, but both parties are scrambling for an advantage. Republicans currently believe they can win nine extra seats due to changes in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Democrats, meanwhile, think they can pick up six seats thanks to new maps in California and Utah. They were hoping Virginia would help them make up the difference. However, with lawsuits still active in several states, there is no guarantee yet which party will actually secure the seats they have redrawn.
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