Virginia Supreme Court Blocks New Congressional Map

0:00It's April 28th. You're listening to U.S. News today, AI-powered national coverage. Virginia's Supreme Court just shot down a push to certify that tight referendum on a new congressional map. They kept the lower courts block in place, so no new districts for now. The vote passed super close. 51.7% in favor, 48.3 against, back in April special election. Democrats in the General Assembly rushed it through, but a Taswell County judge ruled they broke state laws by skipping the bipartisan redistricting commission. Attorney General Jay Jones, a DIM, wanted the high court to pause that and let certification roll, but justices said no. Folks are fired up because this could flip Virginia's house seats big time, from a slim 6-to-5 Democrat edge to maybe 10-to-1 if it sticks. The state's not super partisan, Kamala Harris wanted by just 51.8 to 46.1 last year. Justices grew lawyers in oral arguments. Monday, poking at the partisan gerrymander claims, but didn't tip their hand.

1:06They're set to drop a full ruling soon on whether the referendum holds up. This keeps the battle alive in Virginia's mid-decade redistricting war, with eyes on how it shakes up the U.S. House before those November midterms.