Judge Blocks Virginia Democrats' Redistricting Amendment
Is this a defense of fair redistricting or Republican court-shopping to block voters?
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.
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.