ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — A Virginia judge blocked the state from certifying the results of Tuesday’s congressional map referendum, deeming the referendum and the bill that triggered it as unconstitutional, according to a judge’s order issued Wednesday.
Virginia’s current attorney general, Jay Jones, confirmed to 7News on Wednesday that his office would appeal the decision.
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The order, according to officials, came from the Tazewell Circuit Court, which previously blocked the referendum after repeatedly deeming the vote and the resolution for the referendum unconstitutional, siding with Republicans who filed several suits.
Both previous attempts at blocking the referendum were struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Virginia voters on Tuesday narrowly advanced legislation to redraw the states Congressional maps, a move that could give Democrats 10 out of the 11 seats in the U.S. House. Currently, there are six Democrats and five Republicans representing the state.
Democrats in the state pushed for a mid-term redistricting in response to President Donald Trump, who initially encouraged Republican states to do the same before the mid-term elections.
There are several lawsuits challenging the referendum.
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