Hakeem Jeffries spent more than $62 million trying to rig Virginia's congressional map – and lost anyway.
That money was supposed to be the crown jewel of Democrats' plan to take back the House in November.
What came next has Democrats privately admitting they may need a miracle just to stay competitive.
How Democrats Dismantled Virginia's Bipartisan Redistricting Commission to Rig the Map
In 2020, Virginia voters passed a constitutional amendment creating a bipartisan redistricting commission – specifically to stop politicians from drawing maps for their own benefit.
Princeton University's Gerrymandering Project graded the resulting maps an "A."
Democrats torched all of it in eight months.
Starting in October 2025, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly used a hastily convened special session to push through a constitutional amendment bypassing their own commission – a process a lower court judge found violated the rules before the ink was dry.
The goal was to flip Virginia's 6-5 House delegation to 10-1 Democrat.
Democrats passed the amendment twice, held a statewide referendum in April, won it 52 to 48 – and the state Supreme Court still threw it out.
The court ruled 4-3 that Democrats violated the Virginia Constitution by placing the amendment on the ballot while early voting in the 2025 general elections was already underway.
"This constitutional violation incurably taints the resulting referendum vote and nullifies its legal efficacy," the court wrote.
Virginia uses the fair bipartisan maps in November.
The Virginia Supreme Court Ruled 4 to 3 and the RNC Called It a Win for the Rule of Law
The RNC didn't just watch.
Chairman Joe Gruters led the legal challenge, and when the ruling came down, he didn't hold back.
"Democrats just learned that when you try to rig elections, you lose," Gruters said.
"The RNC led the charge in court against this blatant power grab, where Virginia Democrats poured more than $66 million into an effort to lock in control and silence voters. We took them to court, and we won."
Trump posted on Truth Social within hours: "Huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia. The Virginia Supreme Court has just struck down the Democrats' horrible gerrymander. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Former Governor Glenn Youngkin: "The Constitution prevailed, and Virginians will never forget this unlawful attempt to rob them of their voice in Congress."
Inside the Democrat caucus, it was uglier.
"Damn, California and Virginia were supposed to be our bigger ones," one House Democrat told Axios, refusing to be named.
"Democrats now have to pitch a perfect game," the same lawmaker said.
Another Democrat texted Axios a one-word reaction too profane to print.
Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas called the ruling "sickening."
One Democrat went further – calling the entire spend "a colossal waste of resources" while the party faces 40 competitive races it actually needs to win and the DNC carries debt it can't cover.
"How many millions of dollars are we spending on this when the DNC is in debt and we have 40 frontline races to win?" that lawmaker told Axios.
Republicans Are Now Running the Table in the 2026 Redistricting Wars
While Democrats processed Virginia, three more Southern states moved.
Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina all launched redistricting efforts Friday – moving to eliminate every remaining Democrat House seat in their states.
Florida already approved new maps adding four Republican seats.
Tennessee passed a map flipping one Democrat seat – proceedings so chaotic that a Democrat screamed obscenities at police on the chamber floor.
Alabama Republicans filed an emergency request at the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a lower court ruling blocking their new maps before the day was out.
Shannon Bream reported on Fox News Friday night that if Republicans succeed across all the states currently in play, they net anywhere from four to thirteen seats before a single vote is cast in November.
Republicans are already sitting on gains from Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Democrats countered with California and Utah.
The scoreboard: Republicans up as many as fourteen seats from redrawn maps, Democrats up six.
Democrats Built Their Entire 2026 Midterm Strategy on a Scheme That Just Got Thrown Out
Democrats were never going to win the House on their record.
Their entire path ran through the map – engineering enough structural advantages to offset an energized Republican base and an America First agenda voters keep choosing.
California was supposed to add five seats. Virginia four. Nine seats Democrats built their majority math around – and the Virginia Supreme Court just cut it nearly in half.
Now they need a wave election on top of a map that already favors Republicans by double digits.
Sources:
- Andrew Solender, "House Dems despondent over 'sickening' Virginia decision," Axios, May 8, 2026.
- Alex Griffing, "Three More Southern States Move Toward All-GOP Gerrymander As Dems Face Setbacks," Mediaite, May 8, 2026.
- Ahmad Austin Jr., "Dems Hit Panic Button After Gerrymander Loss: We Now 'Have to Pitch a Perfect Game,'" Mediaite, May 8, 2026.
- Virginia Mercury, "Supreme Court of Virginia strikes down redistricting amendment, keeps current maps in place," May 8, 2026.
- The Hill, "Virginia Supreme Court throws out redistricting results in blow to Democrats," May 8, 2026.
- American Almanac, "Virginia Supreme Court Voids Democrat-Drawn Congressional Map in Major Redistricting Defeat," May 8, 2026.