Elected officials representing Alexandria have joined the Alexandria NAACP in condemning the Virginia Supreme Court’s overturning of the redistricting referendum.
Voters had narrowly approved the referendum to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts — with 51.69% in favor — on April 21. The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved constitutional amendment in a 4-3 ruling Friday (May 8), with the majority citing procedural violations in how the amendment was placed on the ballot.
Later Friday, Virginia Democrats said in a filing that they intended to file an emergency appeal of the state high court’s decision with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, which joined other branches to mobilize voters in support of the amendment, said the ruling disregards the will of Alexandrians who supported it. n the city, 78.98% of participating voters backed the amendment.
“This decision silences the voices of voters who participated in good faith and demanded fairness in our electoral system,” said Darrlynn Franklin, president of the NAACP Alexandria Branch. “Alexandrians stood in line, made a plan, and cast their ballots to protect their voting power. Today’s ruling disregards our voices and weakens the democratic principles we work every day to uphold.”
The Alexandria branch said it is working with the state and national NAACP to explore options to restore the referendum result and educate voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Del. Kirk McPike, a former city councilman now serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, called the decision “bad for our Commonwealth and bad for American democracy.”
“Four Justices of our Supreme Court chose to substitute their preference for the will of the more than 1.6 million Virginians who voted to fight back against Donald Trump’s efforts to rig the 2026 Congressional elections,” McPike said. “The voters’ clear statement deserved to be respected, but these Justices have decided otherwise.”
He continued, “However, I will not allow this setback to hinder my efforts to turn out every voter we need this November to elect more Democrats to Congress and finally hold Donald Trump accountable, nor diminish my commitment to ensuring that the maps Virginians voted for are used in future elections.”
State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) said the fight is not over.
“We will pursue every available path of action and I will support those efforts,” Bennett-Parker said. “As we move toward the November midterm elections, we need everyone engaged, registered, and ready to vote to fight back again.”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who lives in Alexandria, said he respected the court’s decision but that voters “deserved to have their voices heard.”
“Donald Trump assumed he could tilt the playing field and lock in political advantage before a single ballot was cast,” Warner said. “But Virginians are paying attention. They want leaders who will protect their rights, defend their freedoms, and actually focus on lowering costs and getting things done. Democrats will still show up this November, we will still compete everywhere, and when the votes are counted, Virginians will send a strong message about the kind of leadership they want.”
Virginia currently has six Democrats and five Republicans in its U.S. House delegation. The current representatives were elected from districts approved by the Virginia Supreme Court after a bipartisan redistricting commission could not come to an agreement on maps after the 2020 U.S. Census.
Democrats had hoped to win as many as four additional U.S. House seats under Virginia’s redrawn map as part of an attempt to offset Republican redistricting done elsewhere at the urging of President Donald Trump.
Under the Democratic-drawn map, five districts would have been anchored in the Democratic stronghold of northern Virginia. Revisions to four other districts across Richmond, southern Virginia and Hampton Roads would have diluted the voting power of conservative blocs in those areas. And a reshaped district in parts of western Virginia would have lumped together three Democratic-leaning college towns to offset other Republican voters.
Friday’s ruling, combined with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that severely weakened the Voting Rights Act, has supercharged Republicans’ congressional gerrymandering advantage heading into this year’s midterm elections.
Primaries for Virginia’s congressional districts will take place Aug. 4 under the current boundaries. The Virginia Public Access Project labels the 3rd, 4th, 8th and 11th Congressional Districts as strong Democratic and the 6th and 9th as strong Republican. The 7th and 10th Districts, currently represented by Democrats, are labeled competitive and leaning Democratic, respectively, while the 1st, 2nd and 5th District lean Republican.
Candidates in the 8th Congressional District — which includes Alexandria — reaffirmed their campaigns while criticizing the Virginia Supreme Court ruling.
“Unlike the states where Republican rubber-stamp legislatures rammed through new maps with no public input, Virginia’s leaders consulted voters on redistricting, and millions of Virginians rejected Trump’s attempts to seize more power for his party,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), who is running for reelection. “They will do so again. Whether the map used in 2026 is that chosen by voters or that chosen by courts, Virginians will soundly reject this President and his spineless allies in 2026, and we will do all we can to help achieve that end.”
Adam Dunigan, a Marine and former CIA officer, had planned to run in the 7th Congressional District as a Democrat but will run in the 8th District if the Virginia Supreme Court ruling stands.
“Virginians need to send leaders to Washington that will fight for the people, hold corrupt power accountable, and defend our democracy,” Dunigan said in a statement. “That’s been my mission since day one. It will stay my mission regardless of how lines are drawn on a map. We cannot let this decision discourage us from actively fighting for our democracy.”
Tony Sabio, a Republican candidate in the 8th District, supported the court’s ruling but believes Democrats will attempt to redraw maps again in 2030.
“We cannot keep playing defense and expect different results,” Sabio said on X. “We must compete where the left believes Republicans cannot win and begin rebuilding a foundation in Northern Virginia.”
