By The Virginia Supreme Court has dealt a major setback to Democratic efforts to redraw Virginia’s congressional and legislative districts before the 2026 midterm elections, and it’s turning them insane.
The decision left Virginia’s current maps in place for now. Those districts were drawn after the 2021 redistricting cycle and helped produce the state’s current 6-5 Democratic edge in its U.S. House delegation, one that accurately represents the state’s partisan divide.
The ruling quickly prompted calls for a more aggressive response from Democratic leaders and election attorneys. According to reports, party officials weighed several options after the decision, including efforts aimed at forcing the retirement of sitting Virginia Supreme Court justices.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Democrats were exploring all options to overturn the decision before going on an unhinged rant:
Hakeem Jeffries, still stinging from the humiliating rebuke in Virginia, rails against the VA Supreme Court:
"Republicans have concluded that they need to cheat to win."
"The notion that four unelected judges would overturn the votes of more than 3 million citizens in Virginia.… pic.twitter.com/ZkkFAW7DS6
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 13, 2026
Apparently that includes potentially overthrowing the state government itself. Prominent Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias also responded by quoting the Virginia Constitution’s Bill of Rights, invoking language that gives the people the right to alter or abolish an inadequate government.
“whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.”
VA Const.
"whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal." pic.twitter.com/JRKMRqMQzF
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) May 12, 2026
The passage comes from Article I, Section 3 of the Virginia Constitution. Elias’s use of the language, in the context of a court decision blocking a partisan redistricting push, drew criticism from those who viewed it as an escalation beyond ordinary legal appeals or legislative remedies.
Democrats currently control the state legislature and the governor’s mansion and the deciding vote in the Supreme Court was a Democrat.
The clash underscores how deeply radical many Democrats have become. Democrats viewed the Virginia referendum as a way to boost their outlook for the midterms, but the failed effort also appears to have carried a substantial political cost.
One analysis cited by critics said tens of millions of dollars were spent on the Virginia campaign before the court struck it down. Jeffries didn’t like that one bit:
Hakeem Jeffries loses it when called out for his unconstitutional racist gerrymandering scheme.
JEFFRIES: Who lost?
RAJU: YOU LOST! In court.
JEFFRIES: Did the voters lose?
RAJU: The Democrats did. Do you take personal responsibility for an ultimately foolish effort? pic.twitter.com/2ryGiBVnjP
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 13, 2026
For now, Virginia’s existing maps remain in effect unless further legal action changes the outcome. Democrats have signaled they will continue contesting the ruling and even pack the courts if they need to in order to challenge judicial authority when it stands in the way of its power.
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