Trump hails a “huge victory” for Republicans in Virginia ahead of crucial midterm elections
The Supreme Court of the American state of Virginia on Friday annulled the redraw of the electoral districts favorable to the Democrats, a heavy blow for the Democratic Party less than six months before the legislative elections in the middle of the mandate (“Midterms”), reports France Presse and Agerpres.
Immediately, Republican President Donald Trump hailed, in a message on his Truth Social network, a “huge victory” for his party.
The reconfiguration initiated by the Democrats would have practically ensured them an extra four representatives, from 6 to 10, out of the total of 11 in Virginia. It had been approved by referendum on April 21.
But the Supreme Court of Virginia annulled it for procedural reasons, considering that the process did not comply with the provisions of the state Constitution and that, consequently, the referendum is “null and void”.
An eventual appeal remains possible to the United States Supreme Court.
Practice Gerrymandering
By asking Texas to redraw its electoral map in favor of the Republicans in 2025, Donald Trump caused a wave of redistricting across the country, some of them in states led by Democrats determined to fight back, such as in Virginia and California.
The electoral decoupage method, the so-called “gerrymandering”, is an old practice of American parties to secure an advantage in the elections and consolidate their power.
In the US, citizens are required to register as Democrats or Republicans, and many electoral maps are drawn based on this data.
The April 29 decision of the US Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, to restrict the redrawing of electoral districts favoring minorities further reconfigured the political landscape.
Several southern Republican governors, such as those in Louisiana and Alabama, have already announced their intention to redraw electoral districts to eliminate Democratic seats, and the state of Tennessee on Thursday adopted a new map that eliminates a predominantly black electoral district.
