Virginia's High Court Greenlights Redistricting Referendum

The Virginia Supreme Court has allowed a Democratic-backed redistricting initiative to advance to a voter referendum set for April. This move could potentially enable Democrats to flip up to four Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives this fall.

Last month, a state judge halted the redistricting plan, citing an invalid process. By agreeing to review the Democrats' appeal, the state Supreme Court also authorized an April 21 special election to proceed. This ruling marks a significant win for Democrats, who propose a new map that may favor them in 10 of the state's 11 districts, where they currently hold six seats.

The Virginia case is emblematic of a larger national confrontation over redistricting, reignited last summer by President Trump's successful push for a new Republican-leaning map in Texas. Both parties have since introduced new maps in various states, adding tension to the upcoming midterms. Democrats need to gain just three Republican seats to secure a House majority.