Warner calls Virginia court ruling ‘outrageous’ as Kaine urges Democrats to ‘go win’
Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine weighed in after the state Supreme Court blocked the newly drawn congressional map on Friday, with Warner calling the decision “outrageous” and Kaine urging candidates to “win.”
“I’m really disappointed in the court,” Warner said.
Virginia Supreme Court Rules for New Congressional Map
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., arrives at the Capitol Visitor Center for a briefing on Iran on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
(Getty Images)
Court rules redistricting efforts fail to meet Virginia’s A plan that Democrats had hoped would help flip many GOP-held seats has been stalled as both parties battle for control of the House of Representatives.
The amendment, passed in 2020, established stricter rules for congressional map drawing and approval. It also included limits on how political influence could shape district boundaries, an important issue noted by the court.
“I’m not going to second-guess the fact that a majority of Virginians voted for this,” Warner said.
Democratic lawmakers had aimed to target four GOP-held seats under the proposal that voters approved in May before it was rejected by the court. The plan would reshape the structure of the state House The map is in Democrats’ favor ahead of the midterm elections.
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Targeted districts were deemed important Democrats’ efforts gaining ground in Virginia, which remains competitive in federal races despite a statewide tilt toward Democrats.
“That’s what I think,” Kaine said. “We need to do now what we did last November and win a lot of seats in maps we didn’t draw.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., leaves the Senate following the vote at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 21, 2025.
Kaine’s The response shows the face Democrats are putting on amid redistricting fallout in Virginia at a time when both parties are fighting for control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming election November midterms.
He did not address the question directly, instead noting his party’s candidate strength and ability to compete in key races leading up to the election.
“Everything about the candidates running and the dynamic they feel tells me we can do this, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now,” he said.
Republicans have criticized the redistricting effort as an attempt to tip the map in Democrats’ favor, while Democrats have pointed to similar efforts in GOP-led states as part of a broader national fight over congressional lines.
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Voters attend the Arlington Democrats’ redistricting vote watch party during a special election on April 21, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia.
In a separate statement, Kaine accused Republicans of redrawing maps “through backroom deals” while chiding the Virginia Supreme Court for expressing concerns about the referendum after “three million Virginians voted.”
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“There seems to be one set of rules for Democrats and another set of rules for Republicans,” Warner said.
With the proposed map blocked, both parties are expected to focus on key competitive Virginia districts that could decide control of the House of Representatives.
Original article source: Warner calls Virginia court decision ‘outrageous’ as Kaine urges Democrats to ‘go away’
