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The Republican edge in the multistate redistricting race widened Friday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-led redistricting plan that was approved by voters just last month. The court ruled 4-3 that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature violated procedural requirements during the constitutional amendment process, effectively scrapping the results of the ballot measure. Virginia Democrats criticized the ruling for casting aside the will of voters and vowed to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.President Donald Trump called the decision a “huge win for the Republican Party, and America.” The GOP’s advantage in the redistricting race, first initiated by Trump in Texas, is growing. Republicans now believe that the party could gain as many as 14 House seats from redrawn districts across several states. Expected Democratic gains have been reduced to six, down from the 10 seats anticipated before Friday’s ruling in Virginia. The Republican push has only intensified following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that could allow states to eliminate majority-Black districts, which often favor Democrats. On Friday, Alabama lawmakers passed a plan to set new primary elections in some cases if courts permit them to use revised districts in this year’s midterms. Other southern states are also making moves on redistricting. Tennessee enacted new congressional districts Thursday, splitting up a Black-majority district in Memphis — currently the only Democratic-controlled seat in the state. Democrats in Tennessee are suing to block the change, partly citing concerns over the tight election timeline. Another legal battle is playing out in Louisiana, where the governor suspended congressional primaries to give Republicans more time to revise House districts. Meanwhile, South Carolina is considering a new map that, if adopted, could help Republicans win all seven House seats in the state. There is concern, however, that gerrymandering could backfire. By spreading out Republican voters, some fear that certain GOP districts that are currently considered safe could become more competitive, particularly if there were to be a “blue wave” this fall.
The Republican edge in the multistate redistricting race widened Friday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-led redistricting plan that was approved by voters just last month.
The court ruled 4-3 that the Democrat-controlled state Legislature violated procedural requirements during the constitutional amendment process, effectively scrapping the results of the ballot measure.
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Virginia Democrats criticized the ruling for casting aside the will of voters and vowed to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
President Donald Trump called the decision a “huge win for the Republican Party, and America.”
The GOP’s advantage in the redistricting race, first initiated by Trump in Texas, is growing.
Republicans now believe that the party could gain as many as 14 House seats from redrawn districts across several states. Expected Democratic gains have been reduced to six, down from the 10 seats anticipated before Friday’s ruling in Virginia.
The Republican push has only intensified following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that could allow states to eliminate majority-Black districts, which often favor Democrats.
On Friday, Alabama lawmakers passed a plan to set new primary elections in some cases if courts permit them to use revised districts in this year’s midterms.
Other southern states are also making moves on redistricting. Tennessee enacted new congressional districts Thursday, splitting up a Black-majority district in Memphis — currently the only Democratic-controlled seat in the state. Democrats in Tennessee are suing to block the change, partly citing concerns over the tight election timeline.
Another legal battle is playing out in Louisiana, where the governor suspended congressional primaries to give Republicans more time to revise House districts.
Meanwhile, South Carolina is considering a new map that, if adopted, could help Republicans win all seven House seats in the state.
There is concern, however, that gerrymandering could backfire. By spreading out Republican voters, some fear that certain GOP districts that are currently considered safe could become more competitive, particularly if there were to be a “blue wave” this fall.
