Herndon Pinecrest Bridge - Our Votes Matter
The VA Supreme Court decision on the Redistricting Amendment affirmed the January 27th 2026 ruling by Tazewell Circuit Judge, Jack Hurley Jr. But they affirmed after the April 2026 election. They had opportunity to stop the election when the Tazewell opinion was appealed, instead they "stayed" a decision -- they allowed an election to continue; allowed people to vote; and then disallowed their vote with a sophomoric decision that hid the reasoning deep in the bowels of the meandering 20 page decision. Their reason was same as the Tazewell Circuit Judges (basically). Their disservice to this state is understated. https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opnscvwp/1260127.pdf
The cost to local Governments has yet to be calculated -- but it was an expense that could have been avoided, if the supreme court had made a ruling in February instead of waiting until after the election. All government offices in Virginia responsible for the elections funded 45 days of early voting - staffing polls, training poll workers, and supplying each poll site. And for one day (April 21st), all precincts in Virginia were operated requiring paid poll workers (stipends) and professional election officers (salary) to work from 5:30 am until the ballots were counted in their precinct.
For the groups supporting/opposing the campaign, it was the most expensive for any ballot measure in Virginia's history, with over $83 million spent during the campaign. As of April 16, $93 million had been raised, with 95% of funding raised by dark money groups not required to disclose their donors.
Both sides of the question lost money, time, and zapped energy of volunteers.
The main Republican-aligned group opposing the referendum, Virginians for Fair Maps, had raised around $20 million,[62] the majority of which came from a group of the same name which had not disclosed its donors. By April 6, the group had spent $4.8 million in advertising.
The Justice for Democracy PAC, a group largely financed by Peter Thiel, raised over $9 million. The group utilized imagery from the civil rights movement and of the KKK in its advertising, alleging that the amendment would lead to "black and brown voices silenced". It also sent mailers implying that former president Barack Obama opposed the amendment.
The main Democratic-aligned group supporting the referendum, Virginians for Fair Elections, had raised $64 million, including $40 million from House Majority Forward, a group aligned with House Democratic leaders; $12 million from the Fairness Project; and $5 million from the Fund for Policy Reform, founded by George Soros. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine contributed $100,000 through their leadership PACs. By April 6, the group had spent $39.1 million in advertising.