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The fate of Virginia\u2019s redistricting referendum hinges on the state Supreme Court, after voters narrowly decided to redraw the maps 10-1 in favor of Democrats on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Tazewell County Circuit Court ordered a pause on the election results from going into effect on Wednesday. The judge in the case also ruled against the vote multiple times prior to the election, arguing that it is unconstitutional, according to WJLA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli told The Daily Wire that he\u2019s optimistic that the state Supreme Court will ultimately strike down the referendum.<\/p>\n \u201cHang in there. This isn\u2019t over in Virginia, and that\u2019s just the Virginia chapter. I think there\u2019s a lot of regret across the country about the redistricting play in Virginia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The former state attorney general, who\u2019s the national chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative, added that the effort kicked the bipartisan redistricting commission to the curb, as the maps do not expire until after the 2030 census.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have pretty good maps. That system is better than the alternatives we\u2019ve ever had. And to have that thrown away with a three-to-one spending deluge from outside the state as just part of some Hakeem Jeffries political hackery is pretty painful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Virginia Supreme Court doesn\u2019t care about any of that. What they care about is the Virginia Constitution, and was the law followed. And as long as they keep just that focus, I am confident that this referendum is gonna be thrown out,\u201d Cuccinelli continued.<\/p>\n Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley\u2019s order noted that the House Joint Resolution 6007<\/a>, which was the bill to open the door for the mid-decade redistricting vote, is unconstitutional because \u201cthere has not been an ensuing general election of the House of Delegates, and such ensuing general election cannot occur until 2027.\u201d<\/p>\n He also wrote that the \u201cballot language\u201d on the proposed amendment gave \u201cvoters a flagrantly misleading question\u201d and it \u201cdid not accurately describe\u201d what the actual proposal would do, according to 8 News<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, Democrats plan to keep up their fight in court for the gerrymandered map.<\/p>\n \u201cMy office will immediately file an appeal in the Court of Appeals. As I said last night, Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People\u2019s vote,\u201d Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement on the case.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to defending the outcome of last night\u2019s election in court,\u201d Jones continued.<\/p>\n The mid-decade redistricting effort drew millions in spending from proponents, including the backing of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and former President Barack Obama. Republicans also hit the campaign trail, hoping that turnout from rural, redder counties would overcome the deep blue suburbs of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n