Virginia’s Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled on yesterday that the state’s redistricting referendum approved by voters a day earlier was invalid, nullifying the election results.
The results of yesterday’s Virginia Democrat-inspired redistricting referendum, where the Democrats’ gerrymandering plan won 51.5%-48.5%, were called into question by many observers, including CHQ, for the odd batches of late votes that pushed the referendum over the top.
With all the hallmarks of a CIA-engineered Color Revolution, many were questioning the legitimacy of the referendum, but Judge Hurley’s decision was not based on the questionable results, but the constitutional issues raised by the process by which Democrats forced the referendum onto the ballot.
The question voters faced was: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said the legal fight was just beginning: “Here’s my prediction, the referendum gets tossed out in May,” Cuccinelli said in an X post.
“The ‘yes’ folks probably are going to look back at Tuesday and think that was the easy part because they have so badly violated several constitutional provisions,” Cuccinelli told “The Scott Jennings Show.”
The Epoch Times reported three of the lawsuits challenge the referendum on procedural grounds, arguing Democratic Party lawmakers didn’t follow the law regarding timing requirements and legislative steps when passing the measure to place it on the ballot.
The fourth argument is about how the electoral districts were drawn and challenges the maps on contiguity requirements.
According to court documents obtained by 8News, on Wednesday, April 22, Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled that Virginia Democrats’ efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade were illegal on multiple counts.
He further declared that Virginia cannot certify the results of the referendum held on April 21 and that legislators cannot take any action to implement the new map.
Hurley ruled entirely in favor of the RNC, NRCC and two GOP congressmen. According to Hurley, Virginia Democrats’ efforts were illegal for a number of reasons.
Per court documents, Virginia Democrats advanced the proposal during the 2024 Special Session of the General Assembly — however, there are strict rules as to what kind of legislation can be considered during these types of sessions. Democrats reportedly violated those rules. As a result, any actions taken to advance the plan would be deemed illegal.
Further, Virginia’s constitution dictates that a constitutional amendment like this one is supposed to be passed by two different General Assemblies — with a general election taking place in between — before it is passed down to voters. This did not happen, per the judge.
Hurley also ruled that the ballot language given to voters was “flagrantly misleading” and “did not accurately describe the proposed amendment.” The ballot language, as cited above, “Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?” was what Judge Hurley found to be “flagrantly misleading.”
In his final order Judge Hurley ruled that all of the votes cast on Tuesday are “ineffective” and that the Virginia Department of Elections is not to certify the special election’s results. He further declared that no actions can be taken to enact the proposal and redraw Virginia’s congressional map.
The Republican National Committee, a plaintiff in the lawsuit that the judge ruled in favor of, celebrated the ruling and called the redistricting efforts a "blatant power grab," in a statement to ABC News.
"Last night, Democrats only managed to squeak out a narrow 3-point victory despite burning tens of millions in cash and manipulating voters with misleading ballot language," a spokesperson for the RNC wrote according to reporting by ABC News 7. "Every step of the way, Democrats lied and deceived Virginians to push forward what has always been illegal under state law, and today’s decision once again reaffirms that."
“This ruling is a major victory for Virginians,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters. “Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor, but the court recognized it for what it is – a blatant power grab.”
Democrats have vowed to appeal the ruling to the Virginia Supreme Court. However, without action by the Virginia Supreme Court, Judge Hurley’s order issued Wednesday effectively blocks any actions to implement the newly adopted maps, including updating and altering election districts and voter registration records as well as using the maps in subsequent congressional and general elections.
The results of yesterday’s Virginia Democrat-inspired redistricting referendum, where the Democrats’ gerrymandering plan won 51.5%-48.5%, were called into question by many observers, including CHQ, for the odd batches of late votes that pushed the referendum over the top.
With all the hallmarks of a CIA-engineered Color Revolution, many were questioning the legitimacy of the referendum, but Judge Hurley’s decision was not based on the questionable results, but the constitutional issues raised by the process by which Democrats forced the referendum onto the ballot.
The question voters faced was: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said the legal fight was just beginning: “Here’s my prediction, the referendum gets tossed out in May,” Cuccinelli said in an X post.
“The ‘yes’ folks probably are going to look back at Tuesday and think that was the easy part because they have so badly violated several constitutional provisions,” Cuccinelli told “The Scott Jennings Show.”
The Epoch Times reported three of the lawsuits challenge the referendum on procedural grounds, arguing Democratic Party lawmakers didn’t follow the law regarding timing requirements and legislative steps when passing the measure to place it on the ballot.
The fourth argument is about how the electoral districts were drawn and challenges the maps on contiguity requirements.
According to court documents obtained by 8News, on Wednesday, April 22, Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled that Virginia Democrats’ efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade were illegal on multiple counts.
He further declared that Virginia cannot certify the results of the referendum held on April 21 and that legislators cannot take any action to implement the new map.
Hurley ruled entirely in favor of the RNC, NRCC and two GOP congressmen. According to Hurley, Virginia Democrats’ efforts were illegal for a number of reasons.
Per court documents, Virginia Democrats advanced the proposal during the 2024 Special Session of the General Assembly — however, there are strict rules as to what kind of legislation can be considered during these types of sessions. Democrats reportedly violated those rules. As a result, any actions taken to advance the plan would be deemed illegal.
Further, Virginia’s constitution dictates that a constitutional amendment like this one is supposed to be passed by two different General Assemblies — with a general election taking place in between — before it is passed down to voters. This did not happen, per the judge.
Hurley also ruled that the ballot language given to voters was “flagrantly misleading” and “did not accurately describe the proposed amendment.” The ballot language, as cited above, “Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?” was what Judge Hurley found to be “flagrantly misleading.”
In his final order Judge Hurley ruled that all of the votes cast on Tuesday are “ineffective” and that the Virginia Department of Elections is not to certify the special election’s results. He further declared that no actions can be taken to enact the proposal and redraw Virginia’s congressional map.
The Republican National Committee, a plaintiff in the lawsuit that the judge ruled in favor of, celebrated the ruling and called the redistricting efforts a "blatant power grab," in a statement to ABC News.
"Last night, Democrats only managed to squeak out a narrow 3-point victory despite burning tens of millions in cash and manipulating voters with misleading ballot language," a spokesperson for the RNC wrote according to reporting by ABC News 7. "Every step of the way, Democrats lied and deceived Virginians to push forward what has always been illegal under state law, and today’s decision once again reaffirms that."
“This ruling is a major victory for Virginians,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters. “Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor, but the court recognized it for what it is – a blatant power grab.”
Democrats have vowed to appeal the ruling to the Virginia Supreme Court. However, without action by the Virginia Supreme Court, Judge Hurley’s order issued Wednesday effectively blocks any actions to implement the newly adopted maps, including updating and altering election districts and voter registration records as well as using the maps in subsequent congressional and general elections.
