Election 2026 Redistricting Virginia

A federal judge in Rhode Island has dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit demanding the state's unredacted voter rolls. U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy on Friday sided with Rhode Island election officials and civil rights advocates, stating federal law doesn't allow such a "fishing expedition." The Justice Department declined to comment. The DOJ claims it needs the data for election security, but officials argue the demand violates privacy laws and are concerned it will be used to check citizenship status. The Rhode Island ruling is similar to other rejections by federal judges across the country since the Justice Department began seeking detailed voter data from the states.

Virginia voters have approved a congressional redistricting plan that could help Democrats win up to four additional U.S. House seats in this year’s midterm elections. Voters passed a constitutional amendment authorizing the unusual mid-decade redistricting. But their vote may not be the final say because the question still faces legal challenges, including before the state Supreme Court. The Virginia referendum is the latest development in a national redistricting battle that began after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to pass a map more favorable to the GOP. Virginia is the second Democratic-led state to back redistricting, after California voters approved a new map last November.