Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli told CNN’s Jake Tapper, following a court ruling invalidating Tuesday’s congressional redistricting vote, that the state Supreme Court will likely uphold the judge’s decision.
VirginiansvotedTuesday, approximately 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent, to allow the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts, taking the current party breakdown from a 6-5 split to a potential 10-1 Democratic Party advantage.
Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurleyissued an injunctionlate Wednesday, concluding, “Any and all votes for or against the proposed constitutional amendment in the April 21, 2026, special election are ineffective.”
The judge said the referendum question was void “ab initio” — Latin for “from the beginning.”
When Tapper asked about the ruling, Cuccinelli, a Republican, responded that a trial court win is good, but the issue will ultimately be decided at the Virginia Supreme Court.
In January, Judge Hurley hadplaced a preliminary injunctionagainst the Democrats’ ballot referendum going forward.
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in March that the election could go forward, but did not decide on the underlying legal issues raised, theAssociated Pressreported.
“The court still has not ruled on whether the mid-decade redistricting amendment and referendum are legal, indicating that the scheduled April vote could be all for nothing if the top court upholds a lower court ruling blocking the effort,” the Associated Press said at the time.
Cuccinelli explained to Tapper that nothing should be read into the Supreme Court allowing the election to go forward, despite Hurley’s previous ruling.
“There’s a reason the Supreme Court held off until after the vote. Over 100 years of Virginia legal precedent says that the vote in a referendum is part of the legislative process. It’s analogous to a governor signing a bill. You don’t sue on a bill that hasn’t passed yet,” he said.
Source: VidNews » Feed
