Virginians cast their ballots at Robious Elementary School in Midlothian, VA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The Republican National Committee on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to block a referendum on an amendment that if approved by the state’s voters would allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s congressional map. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
The Republican National Committee is suing to halt a Democratic-backed referendum on redrawing the commonwealth’s congressional map, as both parties wage a mid-decade redistricting fight ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The RNC filed its lawsuit Wednesday, after GOP-led Texas began a Trump-urged push last summer to redraw its map to add more Republican seats, kicking off tit-for-tat moves across the country in a fight that could decide control of Congress.
The lawsuit seeks emergency injunctive relief to block an April 21 referendum on a proposed amendment to the commonwealth’s Constitution to allow mid-decade redistricting, arguing the legislation Virginia’s General Assembly approved to put the question before voters is invalid and goes against the state’s Constitution.
“Virginia Democrats are trying to ram through an illegal redistricting scheme that a court has already called a blatant abuse of power,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement.
“The RNC is stepping in to stop this power grab and defend Virginia voters who would be effectively disenfranchised by Democrats.”
Last summer, Texas’ legislature passed mid-decade maps at President Donald Trump’s urging that are projected to net the Republican Party five extra seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by the GOP.
Trump has repeatedly expressed concern over the Republicans’ slim majority of the congressional chamber, as the president’s party historically suffers losses in the midterms.
His first year back in office has been marked by divisive policies and rhetoric, and Trump has warned that if the GOP doesn’t maintain the House after the Nov. 3 midterms, Democrats will move to impeach him.
After Texas took the unusual mid-decade redistricting move, Democrats accused Trump and the Republicans of trying to rig November’s election, and California moved to counter Texas’ effort, with several states under both Democratic and Republican leadership kicking off similar initiatives.
If approved by voters, the Virginia measure would allow lawmakers to redraw its congressional districts, without changing state legislative maps and without using the bipartisan redistricting commission.
Redistricting is projected to give Democrats up to four more blue-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, the RNC argues in its lawsuit that early voting on the amendment begins March 6 — fewer than 90 days after the General Assembly approved the measure — in violation of the Virginia Constitution.
Republicans also argue that ballot language is misleading, including its statement that it will “restore fairness,” as the amendment will allow for the adoption of new maps that favor the Democratic Party.
