Virginia Supreme Court rules, again, that April 21 redistricting referendum may proceed

Poor Ben Cline, who has not yet offered a comment on the ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia, which confirmed today that the April 21 redistricting referendum will move forward as planned.

Cline was a party to the suit in a Tazewell County court, down in a part of Virginia that is closer to five other state capitals than it is to Richmond, in which a judge chosen by MAGAs because they knew how he would rule decided that the April 21 referendum was in all sorts of legal and constitutional violation.

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ICYMI

• Virginia Supreme Court gives go-ahead on congressional map referendum

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The state Supreme Court had already slapped the guy’s hands once, on a previous ruling blocking the referendum from taking place.

Why don’t Republicans want Virginia voters to decide for themselves how things should proceed with the 2026 midterms?

Not a question; we know why.

Cline, who represents the current Sixth District in Congress, would move from a R+20 congressional district to a D+3 district under the new maps adopted by the General Assembly last month.

If voters approve the referendum, those maps would go into effect for the 2026 midterms.

We’ll let Cline deal with his grief.

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ICYMI

• Virginia Republicans playing the PR game with redistricting lawsuits

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“Today is a victory not just for Virginia voters, but for the principle that voters should decide the rules of our democracy,” said Virginians for Fair Elections spokesman Dan Gottlieb. “At a moment when Trump and MAGA Republicans across the country are attempting to rig the midterms by manipulating district lines, Virginia is doing the opposite — giving voters the chance to directly respond. The Court has made clear that the April 21 election will proceed, and voters will decide.”

One other victory lap on today’s ruling, courtesy Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones:

“I’m proud of the decisive action my office took to immediately bring this case before the Supreme Court of Virginia, the proper forum to consider these claims. We moved quickly to protect the orderly administration of this election. The Court’s order is clear: the referendum election will proceed. I’m grateful to the lawyers in the Office of the Attorney General who worked swiftly and skillfully to ensure that the voices of Virginians will be heard at the ballot box.”

Early voting begins March 6. That’s two days from now.