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Judge Blocks Virginia Democrats' Redistricting Amendment

Is this a defense of fair redistricting or Republican court-shopping to block voters?
Judge Blocks Virginia Democrats' Redistricting Amendment
Above: The Virginia State Capitol on Jan. 17, 2026. Image credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

This ruling delivers a crushing blow to Democrats' shameless power grab. The gerrymanderers can't even bring their scheme before voters until after 2027, exposing their attempt to demolish Virginia's fair, bipartisan redistricting system for temporary partisan advantage.

Democratic narrative

Republicans are court-shopping and abusing the legal system because they can't win at the ballot box. This transparent attempt to block Virginians from voting on redistricting will fail on appeal, and voters will ultimately have the final say on their own representation.

Cynical narrative

Democrats in Virginia and other blue states are racing to redraw congressional lines in response to aggressive GOP gerrymanders — even undoing their own good-government reforms — while Republicans elsewhere are doing the same to benefit their side. It’s a partisan arms race where both parties only like gerrymandering when it helps them, ultimately weakening fair representation for voters.


The Controversies



Go Deeper


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT



© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0