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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — On Wednesday, Virginia’s Supreme Court for the second time affirmed that voters may participate in a ballot initiative concerning a Democratic-initiated congressional redistricting strategy. This plan has the potential to secure four additional U.S. House seats for the Democrats, while the justices continue to evaluate legal objections to this initiative.
The court has sanctioned a statewide vote slated for April 21, focusing on whether to permit redistricting in the middle of the decade. This decision mirrors a similar verdict issued by the court last month in a connected case.
However, the court has yet to deliver a verdict on the legality of the mid-decade redistricting amendment and the associated referendum. This means the forthcoming April vote might be rendered moot if the justices uphold a lower court’s decision to block the redistricting effort. Early voting for the referendum is set to commence on Friday.
Last year, President Donald Trump initiated an uncommon mid-decade redistricting clash by encouraging Republican leaders in Texas to redraw district lines, aiming to secure more seats for the GOP. This move was part of a strategy to maintain a slim House majority in the face of electoral trends that often benefit the opposition party during midterm elections.
This sparked a wave of redistricting efforts across the country. Currently, Republicans anticipate gaining nine additional House seats across Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. In contrast, Democrats are eyeing a gain of six seats in California and Utah and aim to close the three-seat gap entirely or partially in Virginia.
In February, Virginia Democrats released a new congressional map that aims to give their party four more seats. Since then, the Democratic-led legislature passed the proposed map and Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the document into law.
Still, the map only goes into effect if it’s backed by voters and the top court.
Democratic lawmakers in Virginia have sought to portray their redistricting push as a response to Trump’s overreach. Republicans have sounded aghast at the proposed district map, describing it as a way for liberals in northern Virginia to commandeer the rest of the state.