A top Virginia lawmaker uncorked an eyebrow-raising response after the conservative-leaning Supreme Court issued an unsigned order Thursday night allowing Texas to use a Trump-backed redrawn congressional map for the House aimed at flipping several Democratic districts.
A three-judge panel blocked the map in October, finding that challengers would likely prove it was unconstitutional due to racial discrimination. However, the majority on the high court criticized the panel for “fail[ing] to honor the presumption of legislative good faith by construing ambiguous direct and circumstantial evidence against the legislature.” Furthermore, the Supreme Court also found that the lower court “improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections.”
The order was roundly criticized by court watchers and earned a blistering dissent from liberal justices on the court.
It also elicited a sharp threat from Virginia Senate President pro tempore L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat.
“I got something waiting for Texas…,” Lucas wrote in a cryptic X post.
In a follow-up post, she clued observers into her plans.
“I will give a follow back to every person who I see tweet 10-1 tonight,” wrote Lucas.
The reference “10-1” is a potential outcome of their proposed mid-decade redistricting plan for the state’s congressional districts. This would shift the current 6-5 Democratic majority in Virginia’s 11-seat delegation to a 10-1 Democratic advantage — a net gain of up to four additional seats.
Her comment comes after state House Speaker Don Scott (D) suggested the legislature is mulling drawing a 10-1 House map for the midterms.
“10-1 is not out of the realm to be able to draw the maps in a succinct and community-based way,” he said, according to Punchbowl News’ Ally Mutnick.
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