The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia’s bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives. The decision is the latest twist in the nation’s mid-decade redistricting competition,which was intensified by a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act .

The 4-3 Virginia Supreme Court Ruling

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down a constitutional amendment that voters narrowly passed last month, finding that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in Virginia’s general election last fall. The amendment was intended to counter Republican gains in other states like Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, as well as a new map in Florida that just became law.

Virginia Democrats argued that the state court misread federal law and Supreme Court precedent, which hold that an election does not happen until Election Day itself, even if early voting is underway.. The state’s top Democrats were divided on whether it was too late for help from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s Recent Rulings on Redistricting

In recent days, the Supreme Court has sided with Republicans in Alabama and Louisiana, allowing them to redo their congressional maps to produce more GOP-leaning seats following the court’s voting rights decision. However, Virginia’s situation was different, as it stemmed from a state court ruling rather than a federal one.

The Supreme Court’s rejection of Virginia’s bid could be used by Democrats in election-year messaging about a partisan Supreme Court.. The decision briefly turned the nationwide redistricting scramble into a draw between the two parties before the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling unraveled that balance.

The Tight Timeline for Primary Elections

Virginia Commissioner of Elections Steve Koski said a court order was needed by Tuesday to set the district lines for primary elections on August 4. The Supreme Court’s rejection of Virginia’s bid means that the state will have to proceed with a different map for the upcoming primaries.

The decision highlights the high stakes of the mid-decade redistricting competition, which has been fueled by President Donald Trump’s urging of Republican-controlled states to redraw their lines and the Supreme Court’s recent voting rights decision.

What’s Next for Virginia’s Redistricting Battle

The Supreme Court’s rejection of Virginia’s bid leaves Democrats without a clear path to restore their favored congressional map. the decision could have significant implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives, as Virginia was seen as a key battleground in the mid-decade redistricting competition.

Democrats may now turn to other strategies to counter Republican gains in other states,but the Supreme Court’s decision has dealt a significant blow to their efforts in Virginia. the outcome of the redistricting battle could have lasting effects on the political landscape in the state and beyond.