Tazewell court again blocks Virginia redistricting vote after RNC sues

A Tazewell County Circuit Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a special election in April that could redraw Virginia’s congressional districts, after the Republican National Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee filed a lawsuit Thursday.

Tazewell County Circuit Court Chief Judge Jack Hurley ruled that an emergency injunction order sought by the plaintiffs would be in effect until March 18. He denied a motion from the defendants to transfer venue and a motion to stay the ruling while the Supreme Court of Virginia considers the appeal of an earlier lawsuit brought by Virginia Republican officials. The judge also denied a defense motion to stay the temporary restraining order pending appeal.

“My office will immediately appeal the ruling issued by the Tazewell County Circuit Court,” Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones’ office, which is representing the defendants, said in a statement Thursday evening. “These arguments are already before the Supreme Court of Virginia, the proper forum to consider the arguments, which has set a schedule for receiving arguments and has justifiably allowed the vote to proceed during this time.”

However, Republicans viewed the circuit court’s ruling as a victory.

“For a second time, the Virginia courts have ruled against Virginia Democrats’ partisan attempt to ignore their own Constitution and rig the system in their favor. This is a massive win in defending honest representation for every Virginian,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement.

Thursday’s lawsuit was a national escalation of state Republicans’ previous lawsuit to block a special election set for April 21 that could allow the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts in a way that would favor Democratic candidates. Hurley ruled in Republicans’ favor in the earlier lawsuit, but this month, the Supreme Court of Virginia allowed the April special election to go forward while the earlier case continues through the court system, in effect a win for Virginia Democrats.

“Despite nearly half of Virginians supporting President Trump, Abigail Spanberger and Democrats are working to silence voters and lock in permanent political control,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement Thursday. “They’re ignoring the state Constitution, misleading voters, and rushing a sham election. The RNC is stepping in to stop this power grab and defend Virginia voters who would be effectively disenfranchised by Democrats.”

Virginia Democrats say that the redistricting, which would create 10 Democrat-friendly districts and one Southwest Virginia district in which Republicans are favored, is in response to President Donald Trump’s push for GOP-friendly mid-decade redistricting.