Judge Blocks Virginia Democrats’ Redistricting Plan for 2026 Midterm Elections

The state Legislature failed to follow the rules when it passed a proposed constitutional amendment on redrawing Virginia’s congressional map, the judge held.

Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Aug. 13, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

A state judge on Jan. 27 halted an effort to redraw Virginia’s congressional map to benefit Democrats in time for the November midterm elections.

Although redistricting generally happens every 10 years after the U.S. Census issues its population count, the unusual midterm redistricting push now underway across the country started after President Donald Trump last year urged Texas state lawmakers to redraw their state’s congressional map to benefit Republicans. Texas did so, and Democrats in California responded by redrawing their state’s congressional map to favor Democrats.