The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday the state can put a redistricting plan on the ballot this spring that could add four more Democratic seats in Congress.
The redistricting referendum will take place on April 21, well before the November midterm elections.
Virginia Democrats already hold six of the state’s 11 congressional seats.
“Today the Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed what we already know, Virginians will have the final say,” state House Speaker Don Scott (D) said in a statement.
The new district maps were passed by the Democrat-controlled Virginia Legislature last October.
Republicans contend the new maps are illegal and a state court blocked the redistricting effort from moving forward last month.
The Virginia Supreme Court overturned the lower-court ruling and allowed the referendum to take place as it considers the legality of the new maps.
However, a final ruling on the maps would not take place until after the special election on redistricting, the high court noted.
“Last October, Democrats took an unprecedented step to illegally pass a constitutional amendment at the 11th hour,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R) said in a statement. “The judiciary agreed and the Supreme Court has taken up and fast tracked the case.
“Make no mistake, the rule of law will prevail.”
Virginia is one of several states to take up mid-decade redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. Republicans will be defending their razor-thin House majority in the fall.
Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina have redrawn district maps to favor Republicans.
Florida is also slated to pursue a redistricting in April that could add GOP seats to the House.
Meanwhile, California voters approved new congressional maps last November aimed at canceling out the potential GOP gains in Texas.
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