Virginia judge lets Democrats' redistricting plan move forward

[In It to Win It]

https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/10/29/virginia-redistricting-judge-whats-going-on

The fight over who gets to draw Virginia's political lines spilled from the state Capitol into the courtroom this week, and Democrats just claimed the first win.

Why it matters: The redistricting fight could determine which party has an advantage in future elections — and potentially reshape representation in and around Richmond.

Catch up quick: Normally, redistricting happens once a decade, after the census.

But state Dems are pushing to get it done now — mid-decade — to counter Republican-led states that have already redrawn their congressional maps to add GOP seats at President Trump's behest.

So they reconvened this week to start a constitutional amendment process that would let them do that before next year's elections.

Yes, but: Senate and House Republicans filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused Democrats of sidestepping the 2020 voter-approved redistricting commission designed to keep politics out of mapmaking.

Republicans asked a Southwest Virginia judge to stop the special session, calling the redistricting push "unconstitutional."

The judge said no, allowing Democrats' plan to move forward — for now.