The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday allowed a referendum, which could lead to a new congressional map favorable for Democrats, to proceed. As a result, Virginia voters will decide in April if they approve or reject a constitutional amendment that allows mid-decade redistricting. The referendum is scheduled for April 21st. If successful, the proposed congressional map drawn by Democrats would likely give them a 10-1 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. Virginia’s congressional delegation currently consists of 6 Democrats and 5 Republicans. “The Court denied the motions to stay, meaning the constitutional amendment vote will go forward before the Court decides the merits. In short: Virginians will vote first. The Supreme Court will rule later,” attorney Tim Anderson said. The Supreme Court of Virginia has taken over the redistricting amendment case — and refused to stop the April 21 referendum. The Court denied the motions to stay, meaning the constitutional amendment vote will go forward before the Court decides the merits. In short: Virginians… pic.twitter.com/qZmsG5Itvg — Tim Anderson (@AssocAnderson) February 13, 2026 NBC News explained further: The Democratic-controlled Legislature approved a measure to amend the state Constitution twice and scheduled the April special election. But last month, a lower court ruled that Democratic lawmakers had erred procedurally. While some state lawmakers have been able to redraw congressional maps through legislation, Virginia’s constitution mandates that a bipartisan redistricting commission handles the process. After several Republican-controlled states enacted new maps, Virginia Democrats began the complicated effort of amending the constitution to allow them to respond with redrawn district lines. “Today’s order is a huge win for Virginia voters,” said Dan Gottlieb, a spokesperson for Virginians for Fair Elections, a group campaigning in support of the redistricting amendment. “This has always been a procedural challenge aimed at stopping voters from even having a say. The referendum proceeds, and the people of Virginia remain in charge of their own elections.” “It’s a question of whether people want to move forward that’s responsive to the redistricting that we’ve seen in other states,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said, according to Virginia Mercury. “Certainly the General Assembly was clear with the amendment process they put forward, and now it’s up to voters,” she added. “The Virginia Supreme Court is allowing the referendum on redistricting to happen in April… and then will hold a hearing two days later to decide whether it’s actually constitutional. Completely ridiculous,” Greg Price commented. The Virginia Supreme Court is allowing the referendum on redistricting to happen in April… and then will hold a hearing two days later to decide whether it's actually constitutional. Completely ridiculous. https://t.co/rl4SCoXMaO — Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 13, 2026 Virginia Mercury has more: Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, also echoed the sentiment. Virginia’s redistricting effort is a response to President Donald Trump kicking off redistricting squabbles nationally by encouraging GOP-led states to fortify their party by redrawing their Congressional maps, Scott said. “We have a president that’s run amok,” Scott said in a press gaggle Friday morning. “So we have no choice but to respond and try to do everything in our power to level the playing field.” While Virginia’s redistricting amendment surfaced in recent months, the national debates first began late last summer when Trump prompted Texas to redraw its maps. Other GOP states began following suit and the Democratic states like New York and Maryland began their own processes. House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, made no reference to Trump or Republican states redistricting on Friday, but lamented other Democratic-led states’ efforts. With the redistricting process still moving forward, he noted the outreach efforts his party will need to do to counter Democratic messaging. “We’re going to make the case to Virginians that this is unfair, this is unprecedented, and, you know, quite frankly, it’s against the law we believe, and we will ultimately win in court,” Kilgore said. The court’s order also allows Attorney General Jay Jones to intervene in the case. All parties must file their opening briefs with the court by March 23.