BY MIRABEL ODETA

A Virginia judge on Tuesday halted an effort by state Democrats to move forward with a more favorable congressional map, delivering a legal setback to the party as it looks toward the next round of U.S. House elections.

Judge Jack Hurley Jr. of the Tazewell County Circuit Court ruled that Democrats in the state legislature improperly advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. The decision comes at a tense moment nationwide, as both major parties maneuver over district boundaries in an attempt to gain an edge before November’s midterm elections, when control of the narrowly divided U.S. House of Representatives will be decided.

With Democrats needing to flip just three Republican-held seats to secure a majority in the 435-member chamber, the outcome of redistricting battles has taken on heightened importance. Even small shifts in district lines could determine which party controls Congress.

Don Scott, the Democratic Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, said in a social media post that the party plans to appeal the ruling, signaling that the legal fight is far from over. Democrats had earlier this month approved the proposed amendment in the legislature, setting the stage for a statewide vote that, if successful, would have granted lawmakers the authority to redraw the state’s congressional map.

Under the proposal, Democrats believed a new map could potentially swing several districts in their favor. While Democrats currently hold six of Virginia’s 11 seats in the U.S. House, party leaders said a redraw could have expanded that advantage dramatically, possibly to as many as 10 seats.

In his ruling, Hurley said the process used to introduce the amendment did not comply with constitutional requirements and was carried out too close to the state’s November election. He also noted concerns about timing, as lawmakers had been expected to call a special election this spring and release a proposed new map beforehand so voters could fully evaluate the changes.

Redistricting normally takes place once every ten years following the U.S. Census, with the goal of reflecting population changes. However, the issue has erupted well outside that cycle in recent months. President Donald Trump, a Republican, set off a wave of renewed redistricting disputes last summer after encouraging Texas Republicans to redraw their congressional map in a way that targeted five Democratic incumbents.

That move prompted swift responses from Democrats in other states. In California, lawmakers advanced a new map aimed at unseating five Republican members of Congress, while additional Republican- and Democratic-led states explored similar efforts. The resulting legal and political clashes have underscored how central redistricting has become to the fight for control of Congress.

For now, Virginia Democrats face an uphill battle as they seek to revive their plan through the courts, while Republicans point to the ruling as a check on what they describe as an aggressive and rushed attempt to reshape the state’s political landscape.