Supreme Court delivers massive blow to Dems​' last-ditch gerrymander gambit

[turbinetree]

By Daniel Hampton
Published May 15, 2026 6:58 PM ET

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday slammed the door on Virginia Democrats' last-ditch effort to revive a congressional map that would have handed them a commanding advantage in the 2026 midterms.

In a one-line order, the justices denied an emergency stay application filed by House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), and other top Democratic lawmakers seeking to pause a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down the voter-approved redistricting amendment.

The decision means the state's court-drawn 2021 map — which gave Democrats a 6-5 advantage — will remain in place for the November midterms. The voided amendment, ratified by 51% of Virginia voters on April 21, would have allowed the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to redraw the lines in a map projected to favor Democrats in 10 of the state's 11 districts.

https://www.rawstory.com/virginia-redistricting-2676902942/

But this maga court is alright that votes don't count and voters made a choice...............expand the court..............oh I forgot they are all in on granting a traitor immunity for the Espionage Act...........

[Lovie777]

1. I'm pretty sure after November or even before they will try again....................

I believe they knew what the out come would be with the US SC.

[MichMan]

12. All they have to do is just repass the legislation after the November election

The Virginia SC already indicated the path

[Gregory1230]

2. This is act of war

This could start of be a new American Civil War that would be US Civil War II. Also California could to secede USA that similar to original Civil War from Confederates did in 1861. Just saying

[FBaggins]

4. The overall redistricting mess perhaps - but not this ruling

The ruling is as plain vanilla as they come and appears to be unanimous. It was probably stupid to appeal the decision

[MichMan]

3. The chances of them even talking the case was very low

[FBaggins]

5. Indeed... they didn't even argue federal issues at the state level

It's not generally kosher to bring those up to SCOTUS without arguing them in the courts below

[Ms. Toad]

9. That's not the issue - the Supreme Court generally declines cases which were decided on independent and adequate

state law.

The state court didn't make that express determination, but it was an interpretation of the State constitution that was at issue. Interpretation of state constitutions are not a federal issue, unless the state has ruled in a way that puts its constitution in conflict with the US constitution.

[FBaggins]

11. It is the issue - both things are true

They generally won’t mess with a state court’s interpretation of state law and/or constitution…. EXCEPT when that decision is in conflict with the federal constitution (or a federal law where the supremacy clause applies).

Which is why they tried to raise a pair of federal constitutional issues. They were pretty weak tea so they were potentially ignored regardless… but the failure to make the claim in the lower courts was a big miss that could have gotten it tossed as well

[Polybius]

6. Apparently, it was a 9-0 decision

Can anyone confirm? A poster said it was in the LBN thread.

[EdmondDantes_]

7. This article says there were no dissents

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/justices-reject-virginia-democrats-attempt-revive-congressional-map-rcna344799

[Quiet Em]

10. The vote count and dissents are not usually noted on emergency dockets

this is all that was released

https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/051526zr_1a72.pdf

[orangecrush]

8. What this guy said

https://youtube.com/shorts/81ZyksIEjOQ?feature=shared