Virginia has turned into a full-blown political battleground over redistricting, and the fight is heading to court. The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a constitutional amendment from reaching voters on April 21, a measure that would hand redistricting power back to the state legislature from an independent commission.

The Legal Challenge

The RNC's complaint argues that "emergency relief is needed to prevent the transmission of a defective proposal for constitutional amendment to Virginia voters" that violates both the state constitution and a prior court order. Republicans point to a Tazewell County judge's earlier ruling that Democrats failed to follow proper procedures when advancing the amendment.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters didn't mince words, calling the proposal "a blatant abuse of power." He said Virginia Democrats are "trying to ram through an illegal redistricting scheme that a court has already called a blatant abuse of power," adding that they're "ignoring the state Constitution, misleading voters, and rushing a sham election."

Procedural Problems

The lawsuit, filed jointly by the RNC, National Republican Congressional Committee, and two GOP congressmen, raises several technical objections. Republicans claim the ballot language misleads voters and that early voting, scheduled to start March 6, violates a required 90-day waiting period following legislative approval in January.

The suit seeks to halt the vote entirely until the amendment meets legal requirements or gets reapproved through the proper process in 2027.

What's Actually At Stake

Here's where things get interesting. Virginia Democrats have unveiled a proposed map that could dramatically reshape the state's congressional delegation. Currently, Virginia sends six Democrats and five Republicans to Washington. Under the new map, that could shift to a lopsided 10-1 Democratic majority.

The proposed map splits Richmond and reshapes several districts while maintaining a Voting Rights Act-protected district in Hampton Roads. It's the kind of redistricting move that could have national implications for House control.

The Vote Moves Forward, For Now

Despite the legal challenge, the April 21 referendum will proceed under a Virginia Supreme Court ruling. But analysts caution that the outcome remains far from certain. Voters could reject the measure outright, or courts could ultimately block it even if it passes.

Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing to go all-in. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN on Monday that the national Democratic Party is willing to do "whatever it takes" to pass Virginia's redistricting measure, including spending "tens of millions" to support it.

So we've got lawsuits flying, millions in campaign spending coming, and control of multiple House seats hanging in the balance. Virginia's April special election just became one of the most consequential political battles of 2025.