State’s highest court voided voter-approved map in April leaving existing boundaries in place
Voters in April approved a new congressional map that, according to the Associated Press, was more favorable to Democrats. The state’s highest court invalidated the map less than three weeks later, and the primary is taking place using the commonwealth’s previous district lines.
The election is Virginia’s third statewide vote in nine months. It will set the party nominees for Senate and House races in November. The Associated Press reported that several swing districts in the commonwealth are competitive enough to decide control of the U.S. House, which is narrowly divided between the parties.
The unsuccessful Virginia effort to enact a new map came after President Donald Trump and state lawmakers in a number of Republican-controlled states, including Texas and Missouri, pushed to redraw their congressional maps ahead of schedule and boost their party’s chances of holding the House, the Associated Press reported.