Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday criticized the Supreme Court's decision not to intervene in Virginia's redistricting dispute, calling it a dismissal of voter-approved maps that would have favored Democrats.
What the Right Is Saying
The Supreme Court's order did not include any noted dissents, indicating unanimous agreement to let Virginia's top court ruling stand without federal intervention.
Virginia Republicans had successfully argued in state court that Democrats failed to follow proper procedures when placing the redistricting measure on the April ballot. The 4-3 decision by Virginia's Supreme Court eliminated what would have been four additional Democratic-leaning congressional seats.
Republicans maintained the map violated state constitutional requirements for how ballot measures involving legislative matters must be structured and approved.
What the Left Is Saying
Spanberger posted on X that 'the Supreme Court of the United States has now joined the Supreme Court of Virginia in choosing to nullify an election and the votes of more than three million Virginians.' She argued voters cast ballots 'in good faith to push back against a President who said he's entitled to more seats in Congress before voters go to the polls.'
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) called the decision 'yet another profoundly troubling example of the continued national attack on voting rights and the rule of law by Donald Trump, Republican state legislatures, and conservative courts.' He said it left Virginia's Supreme Court's 'deeply flawed' ruling in place.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) told NewsNation that Democrats were considering multiple responses to the state court's decision. She noted the General Assembly could pursue a constitutional amendment to implement the new map but emphasized the immediate focus was on November elections, saying they would 'pick up as many of these seats in Virginia as possible.'
State Del. Elizabeth Guzman, who suspended her campaign pending redistricting outcomes, said she hoped other candidates would 'fight and deliver for a Virginia that works for ALL.' Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said he would ensure 'Virginians remember this November' before going to the polls.
What the Numbers Show
Virginia's original congressional map will remain in effect for November elections, preserving Republican advantages in several districts that Democrats had sought to redraw through the voter-approved referendum.
The Cook Political Report estimated the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling removed four House pickup opportunities for Democrats, affecting the party's path to reclaiming control of the U.S. House.
Virginia has 11 congressional seats and a May 12 deadline for finalizing district boundaries ahead of midterm elections.
The Bottom Line
Spanberger's response marks the highest-profile Democratic reaction since the Supreme Court declined to overturn Virginia's redistricting ruling, signaling continued legal and political battles over congressional maps heading into November. Her sharing of an ActBlue fundraising link after the decision suggests Democrats will attempt to convert electoral disadvantage into voter mobilization. Republicans maintain favorable map conditions in a key battleground state as both parties prepare for midterm contests.
The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene sets no broader precedent, as it declined to explain its reasoning in the one-line order.