A federal judge has invalidated Virginia’s recently adopted congressional redistricting plan, ruling that state lawmakers relied too heavily on race when drawing district boundaries, in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
In a detailed opinion issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jack Hurley Jr. concluded that the state’s Democratic-led legislature made racial considerations the dominant factor while shaping two congressional districts in eastern and southeastern Virginia. The decision prevents the map from being used in any future elections and forces lawmakers back to the drawing board.
The contested redistricting plan was approved by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin in early 2025 following population shifts identified in the 2020 census. Democratic leaders had argued the new map complied with the Voting Rights Act and helped preserve competitiveness in several closely contested House seats.
However, Republican voters who challenged the map contended that the plan unfairly concentrated Black voters into specific districts, diminishing their influence in surrounding areas. Judge Hurley agreed, finding that the legislature “packed” Black voters into the 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts beyond what federal law requires.
According to the ruling, lawmakers elevated racial demographics over traditional redistricting principles such as compactness and geographic coherence, resulting in irregularly shaped districts. The court emphasized that while race may be considered to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, it cannot be the overriding basis for drawing district lines.
The affected districts are currently represented by Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan. Judge Hurley, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, noted that the redistricting approach reduced minority voting influence in neighboring swing districts that are politically competitive.
As part of the ruling, the court ordered the parties involved to submit a proposed timeline for creating a new, constitutionally compliant congressional map. Until a replacement is approved, the invalidated map may not be used in any election.
Virginia’s attorney general has announced plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, setting the stage for continued legal debate.
The case adds to a growing list of post-census redistricting battles across the country, where control of the closely divided U.S. House remains a central political stake.
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