A Virginia circuit court judge issued an order Wednesday blocking the results of the state’s redistricting referendum, which could net Democrats as many as four extra seats in the midterms.
In his decision, Judge Jack Hurley from Tazewell County said the referendum, which voters had narrowly approved the day before, was invalid, ultimately blocking the state from taking steps to enact the new district lines.
If the courts allow Virginia to enact the new congressional map, Democrats would likely be able to pick up 10 of the state’s 11 districts. The new lines would effectively bring the nationwide redistricting battle, spurred by President Donald Trump last year, to a statistical draw.