In October 2025, House Speaker Don Scott reconvened the 2024 Special Session—originally called by Governor Youngkin solely for budget purposes—and introduced a constitutional amendment to strip the citizen-led Redistricting Commission of its authority over congressional districts. The resolution passed along strict party lines, 50-42 in the House and 21-17 in the Senate, despite the General Assembly’s own procedural rules requiring unanimous consent to add new items to the Special Session’s limited agenda. Senator Stanley, alongside Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover County), Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Scott County), and citizen commissioner Virginia Trost-Thornton, filed suit to protect the Constitution and the will of Virginia voters.
Judge Jack S. Hurley, Jr. agreed, writing, “This blatant abuse of power by a majority IGNORES their own rules and resolutions thereby trampling ANY and ALL procedural rights of the minority.” The Court found that the General Assembly violated its own rules, failed to meet constitutional timing requirements for proposing amendments, and did not comply with Virginia Code Section 30-13 regarding public notice to voters. Judge Hurley issued both a temporary and permanent injunction, prohibiting the proposed amendment from being submitted to voters until at least ninety days before the 2027 House of Delegates election—effectively ending the Democratic majority’s attempt to redraw the rules of redistricting to benefit their own party.
Senator McDougle released the following statement:
“The court confirmed that Democrat legislative leaders unlawfully expanded a Special Session, violated their own rules, and attempted to force through a redistricting constitutional amendment while Virginians were already voting.”
Senator Stanley released the following statement:
“Today is a victory for every Virginian who believes in fair representation and the rule of law. In 2020, the people of this Commonwealth voted to create an independent Redistricting Commission—taking the power to draw district lines out of the hands of politicians and giving it to the people. Today’s ruling affirms that their voice matters and their vote will be protected.”
“While I know that Democrats will appeal, I am confident that the Appeals Court will uphold this sound and just ruling today by the Tazewell County Circuit Court, because the law is the law.”
Senator Obenshain released the following statement:
“This is a clear win for the voters of Virginia, who decided overwhelmingly to take partisan politics out of redistricting. Today, a Virginia court agreed: Democrats violated the law to push through their gerrymandering amendment. The Constitution won.”
