Trending Now - Virginia Court Halts New Congressional Map Amid Legal Battle

WHO:

Fox News - Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones stated, "We look forward to defending the outcome of last night's election in court."

ABC News - Republican Congressman Rich McCormick introduced the "Make DC Square Again Act" to expand Washington, D.C.'s borders.

Fox News - Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones stated, "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People’s vote."

Fox News - Fairfax County delivered nearly 70% support for the redistricting measure, which helped push the referendum across the finish line statewide.

CNN - State Attorney General Jay Jones stated that his office intends to immediately appeal Judge Hurley’s ruling.

CNN - Virginians for Fair Elections, which supported the referendum, claimed that voters “understood exactly what was on the ballot, and they chose YES.”

CNN - Virginians for Fair Elections stated that voters “understood exactly what was on the ballot, and they chose YES.”

CNN - Virginians for Fair Elections added, “Republicans lost. Now they’re trying to overturn the will of the voters in court and trying to relitigate an election they couldn’t win.”

Fox News - A Virginia circuit court judge ruled on the redistricting referendum.

CNN - Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley issued the ruling.

CNN - Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced plans to appeal the ruling.

CNN - Virginians for Fair Elections, a group that supported the referendum, commented on the situation.

WHAT:

CNN - The Virginia Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments regarding the redistricting case next week.

France 24 - Trump claimed the Virginia vote was "rigged" and blamed mail-in ballots for the outcome.

CNN - The judge's ruling on April 22nd, 2026, included a statement that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading.”

CBS News Politics - The judge's ruling on April 22nd, 2026, prevents Virginia from using the new congressional districts that were approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

Fox News - The Tazewell County judge declared the entire redistricting referendum void and barred the state from certifying the results or redrawing the maps.

Fox News - The Virginia Supreme Court allowed the vote to proceed before the judge's ruling.

Fox News - A Virginia circuit court judge ruled on April 22nd, 2026, that the redistricting referendum was unconstitutional, blocking the implementation of the Democrat-drawn congressional map.

CNN - The judge's ruling on April 22nd, 2026, included a statement that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading.”

CBS News Politics - The judge's ruling on April 22nd, 2026, prevents Virginia from using the new congressional districts that were approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

Fox News - The Virginia circuit court judge ruled that the redistricting referendum was unconstitutional.

CNN - The judge's ruling included a statement that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading.”

CBS News Politics - The judge's ruling on April 22nd, 2026, blocked Virginia from moving forward with the redistricting effort that passed on April 21st, 2026.

Fox News - The Virginia circuit court's ruling was made one day after the redistricting referendum was approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

NY Post - The court's decision prevents the state from enacting new congressional districts that could allow Democrats to flip four Republican House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

CNN - The judge's ruling included a statement that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading.”

Fox News - The Virginia circuit court declared the redistricting vote unconstitutional.

NY Post - The court blocked the implementation of the Democrat-drawn congressional map.

CNN - Judge Hurley ordered that the results of the vote not be certified.

CNN - The new map was designed to help Democrats gain four US House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

CNN - The new map gives Democrats an advantage in 10 of the state’s 11 US House seats.

WHERE:

ABC News - The proposed legislation by McCormick would affect the southwestern part of Washington, D.C., which was returned to Virginia in the 19th century.

CNN - The ruling was made in Tazewell County, Virginia.

WHEN:

Fox News - The judge's ruling blocking certification occurred on April 22nd, 2026, one day after the referendum was approved.

Fox News - The judge issued the ruling on April 22nd, 2026, one day after the redistricting referendum was approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

Fox News - The judge's ruling occurred on April 22nd, 2026, less than a day after the referendum was approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

CNN - The judge issued the ruling on April 22nd, 2026, one day after the redistricting referendum was approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

CNN - The judge issued the ruling on April 22nd, 2026.

Fox News - The redistricting referendum was approved by voters on April 21st, 2026.

CNN - Judge Hurley issued the ruling on April 22nd, 2026.

CNN - The case regarding the referendum is pending before the Virginia Supreme Court.

WHY:

ABC News - McCormick stated the bill aims to end the "artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia."

Fox News - The judge stated that proper procedures were not followed to place the amendment on the ballot and that the ballot language was unclear.

CNN - The judge ruled that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum, which was a key reason for the ruling.

CNN - The judge ruled that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum.

CNN - The judge ruled that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum, which was a key reason for the ruling.

CNN - The judge ruled that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum.

CNN - Judge Hurley described the ballot language as “flagrantly misleading.”

HOW:

CNN - The judge ruled that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum, which was a key reason for the ruling.

CNN - The judge barred state election officials from modifying election districts or proceeding with the new maps as part of the ruling.

CNN - The judge barred state election officials from modifying election districts or proceeding with the new maps.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 23:14 UTC)

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced plans to defend the outcome of the election in court following a judge's ruling on Wednesday that blocked certification of the redistricting referendum. Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Rich McCormick has introduced the "Make DC Square Again Act," which aims to expand Washington, D.C.'s borders by affecting the southwestern part of the city that was returned to Virginia in the 19th century. Trump has claimed the Virginia vote was "rigged," attributing the outcome to mail-in ballots, as the Virginia Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on the redistricting case next week.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 21:13 UTC)

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has expressed strong opposition to a recent ruling by a judge that prevents the state from using new congressional districts approved by voters on Tuesday. The judge's decision, issued on Wednesday, stated that the ballot language for the referendum was “flagrantly misleading,” and it bars state election officials from modifying election districts or proceeding with the new maps. Jones emphasized that "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People’s vote."

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 19:19 UTC)

In a significant turn of events, a Tazewell County judge declared the entire redistricting referendum void on Wednesday, just a day after voters approved it with nearly 70% support in Fairfax County. The judge barred the state from certifying the results or redrawing the maps, citing that proper procedures were not followed and the ballot language was unclear. Despite this ruling, the Virginia Supreme Court had previously allowed the vote to proceed.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 17:23 UTC)

A Virginia circuit court judge ruled on Wednesday, that the recently approved redistricting referendum was unconstitutional, effectively blocking the implementation of the Democrat-drawn congressional map. The judge criticized the ballot language as “flagrantly misleading” and determined that state lawmakers did not adhere to their own rules in passing the referendum. This ruling prevents Virginia from using the new congressional districts that voters approved just a day earlier on Tuesday.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 15:34 UTC)

on Wednesday, a Virginia circuit court judge ruled that the recently approved redistricting referendum was unconstitutional, stating that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading.” In response, State Attorney General Jay Jones announced that his office intends to immediately appeal the ruling, while Virginians for Fair Elections, who supported the referendum, argued that voters clearly understood what was on the ballot and chose to approve it. The judge's decision also prohibits state election officials from modifying election districts or moving forward with the new maps.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 13:22 UTC)

A Virginia judge has blocked the state's redistricting effort that was approved by voters on Tuesday, ruling that lawmakers did not adhere to their own procedures in passing the referendum. Virginians for Fair Elections stated that voters clearly understood the ballot and chose "YES," while also criticizing Republicans for attempting to overturn the election results in court. As part of the ruling, the judge has prohibited state election officials from changing election districts or implementing the new maps.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 07:23 UTC)

A Virginia circuit court has ruled against the state's new congressional districts just one day after voters approved a redistricting referendum on Tuesday. The judge stated that the ballot language was “flagrantly misleading” and determined that state lawmakers did not adhere to their own rules in passing the referendum, which could have allowed Democrats to flip four Republican House seats in the upcoming midterm elections. This ruling, issued on Wednesday, effectively prevents the state from enacting those new districts.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 01:22 UTC)

A Virginia circuit court judge has ruled that the redistricting referendum approved by voters on Tuesday is unconstitutional, blocking the implementation of a Democrat-drawn congressional map designed to help the party gain four US House seats in the upcoming midterm elections. Judge Jack Hurley ordered that the results of the vote not be certified, stating that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules and describing the ballot language as “flagrantly misleading.” Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has announced plans to appeal the ruling, while Virginians for Fair Elections, a group that supported the referendum, has commented on the situation as the case now heads to the Virginia Supreme Court.