Virginia Democrats’ proposed amendment to redraw Virginia’s Congressional map before this year’s midterm elections violates both the state’s constitution and its legislature's own rules and resolutions, Judge Jack S. Hurley ruled Tuesday.
“Breaking: A judge rules that a proposed constitutional amendment that could allow Virginia Democrats to redraw Virginia's Congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections is illegal,” ABC 8News WRIC (Richmond) Virginia State Capitol Reporter Tyler Englander posted to social media Tuesday afternoon.
The post shares the text of Tazewell Judge Jack S. Hurley’s decision, in which “The Court hereby GRANTS a PERMANENT and TEMPORARY INJUNCTION” against Virginia Democrats’ bid to gain additional seats in the state’s House.
Judge Hurley initially rejected the request for an injunction, but granted it after the petition was amended.
“Democrats currently control 6 of Virginia's 11 congressional districts and aim to create up to 4 additional left-leaning seats,” Fox News explained earlier this month when the state’s Democrat-controlled Senate followed the Democrat-controlled House in advancing the proposed amendment.
The amendment, if instituted, calls for a vote on the ballot measure this spring, so that the state’s legislature (rather than the required non-partisan redistricting commission) can redraw congressional maps before this year’s midterm elections and through 2030.
The lawsuit seeking the injunction granted by Judge Hurley was filed by Republican State Senator Ryan T. McDougle, the Senate Minority leader and a legislative commissioner of the Virginia Redistricting Commission.
“Today’s ruling is a decisive victory for the rule of law and Virginia’s voters,” McDougle said in a statement cheering the decision:
“This case was never about partisanship. It was about process, fairness and the simple principle that you cannot change the Constitution by ignoring the Constitution.”
Breaking: A judge rules that a proposed constitutional amendment that could allow Virginia Democrats to redraw Virginia's Congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections is illegal. https://t.co/8B2LjkM3tn
— Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) January 27, 2026
