RICHMOND, Va. (AP) 鈥� A Virginia court on Thursday effectively blocked Democrats鈥� planned April voter referendum to redraw the state鈥檚 congressional maps, another potentially devastating blow to the party鈥檚 effort to pick up four more U.S. House seats in the national redistricting battle.
Virginia Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones has already vowed to appeal the ruling by a Tazewell Circuit Court, which granted a temporary restraining order requested by the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. The plaintiffs argue that the ballot referendum鈥檚 timing and phrasing are illegal.
The court’s decision on Thursday, while temporary, could kill the referendum for this year if it withstands appeal. The restraining order is in effect until March 18 and early voting is slated to start March 6.
The Republican request for a restraining order 鈥� also signed by Republican U.S. Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith 鈥� argued that Democrats were ramming redistricting-related bills through the legislature despite legal hurdles that prevent such a rushed process.
In a statement, the GOP national committee said the latest ruling was 鈥渁 massive win in defending honest representation for every Virginian.鈥�
It鈥檚 the second time Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. has ruled against Democrats鈥� redistricting agenda. In January, he ruled that a resolution for a constitutional amendment was illegally passed in a special legislative session and taken up too close to an intervening election.
That case has been appealed to the state Supreme Court, and justices had said they would allow the while they review the appeal.
President Donald Trump launched an unusual mid-decade redistricting battle last year by pushing Republican officials in districts to help his party win more seats. The goal was for the GOP to hold on to a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power .
Instead, it created a national redistricting battle. So far, Republicans believe they can win nine more House seats in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Democrats think they can win six more seats in California and Utah, and are hoping to fully or partially make up the remaining three-seat margin in Virginia.
Before Thursday’s ruling, Democrats had been bullish in pressing ahead with their effort, releasing a that could give their party four more seats in the U.S. House. The redistricting plan has since been introduced in the legislature.
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, said Thursday he was confident the latest court order would be overturned.
鈥淭he Supreme Court of Virginia has already made clear that this matter will go to the voters, but Republicans unhappy with that ruling went back to their friendly judge,鈥� Scott said in a statement that pointed out Hurley’s earlier decision.
Democrats have also tried to limit which court venues can take up such cases. After Republicans filed their first suit in Tazewell, a conservative area in Southwest Virginia, Democratic lawmakers passed legislation saying legal actions related to constitutional amendments or their elections only have : the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.
Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the bill into law and set the date for the redistricting referendum for .
In their court filings, Republicans have said Tazewell is still the correct venue despite the new law. Hurley agreed.
___ Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
