Angry Democratic lawmakers gathered over the weekend to vent over the Supreme Court of Virginia overturning the state’s newly drawn congressional map, with some members floating what was described as a dramatic proposal: replacing the court itself to revive the map.
According to a report from The New York Times, Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, held a private meeting Saturday following the court’s ruling the previous day. During the discussion, lawmakers reportedly expressed frustration with the decision and debated possible responses.
Journalist Reid J. Epstein reported that some participants discussed what he described as an “audacious and possibly far-fetched idea” aimed at restoring the rejected map, though not all Democrats were supportive of the proposal, the Times reported.
“The most dramatic idea they discussed — which would involve an unusual gambit to replace the entire state Supreme Court, to reinstate their gerrymandered map — drew mixed reactions on the call,” Epstein wrote.
He added, “It was not clear that it would even be viable, or palatable to Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly.” Some Democrats representing Virginia in the House were also on the call, the report said.
“They did not land on a specific course forward, and Mr. Jeffries and the other members of Congress agreed to consult with their lawyers about the most prudent way to proceed, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private talk,” the report added.
The discussion among Democrats arises as both parties are engaged in a redistricting struggle in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections. A ruling from Virginia on Friday dealt a setback to Democrats, as the new congressional map was expected to provide the party with an advantage in 10 out of the state’s 11 congressional districts.
Other topics that were bantered back and forth during the call were ways for Democrats to flip two or three Republican-held seats under the current map, and a “bank-shot proposal to redraw the congressional lines anyway,” Epstein reported. The call reflected the “desperation and fury” that is currently gripping the party, he noted further.
After the state Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan on Friday in a 4-3 ruling, Democratic leaders in the state announced plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The ruling marked another setback for Democrats as the party battles Republicans nationwide for an advantage heading into this year’s midterm elections. The appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is seen as a long-shot bid, at best, to get their map reinstated.
Democratic leaders, including Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Attorney General Jay Jones, filed a motion late Friday seeking to pause the state court’s ruling while they pursue an emergency appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court. Jeffries, meanwhile, vowed the ruling “will not stand.”
The Virginia Supreme Court concluded that the Democratic-controlled legislature failed to follow required procedures when placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot authorizing mid-decade redistricting. Although voters narrowly approved the amendment on April 21, the court’s decision effectively invalidated the result.
Writing for the majority, Justice D. Arthur Kelsey said lawmakers presented the constitutional amendment to voters “in an unprecedented manner.” He added, “This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void.”
Democrats had hoped Virginia’s newly redrawn congressional map would help the party gain as many as four additional seats in the U.S. House as part of a broader effort to counter Republican-led redistricting initiatives backed by President Donald Trump in other states.
Friday’s ruling, coupled with a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, significantly narrowed key provisions of the Voting Rights Act by ruling that racially-drawn districts are unconstitutional, is expected to strengthen Republicans’ redistricting advantage ahead of this year’s midterm elections