Virginia's proposed congressional district map, drawn under a voter-approved redistricting plan, with Republican-leaning western districts in red and Democratic-leaning eastern districts in blue. Virginia's Supreme Court struck down the plan on May 8, 2026, dealing a major setback to Democrats as both parties wage a war of mid-decade redistricting. Graphic: PBS NewsHour
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May 13, 2026
Virginia voters approved a new congressional map — then the state's Supreme Court threw it out. With redistricting battles heating up across the country, what does this mean for who gets represented in Congress?
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Virginia’s Supreme Court has struck down a voter-approved plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps to benefit Democrats. It was a major setback for Democrats, as both parties wage a war of mid-decade redistricting. David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter joins Amna Nawaz to discuss Friday’s ruling and the national context.
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gerrymandering — practice of drawing congressional district lines to benefit one political party over another is known as gerrymandering and dates back to the 19th century
How was the Congressional map chosen in your state, and how fair is it?
The graphic mentions "Princeton's Gerrymandering Project." Check out the Princeton Gerrymandering Project by visiting their website and finding out more about the score they give to your state. As a class, discuss:
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