Mountain Media, LLC
  • West Virginia News
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • Mountain Messenger
      • Pocahontas Times
      • Parsons Advocate
      • Pendleton Times
      • Clay County Free Press
      • Calhoun Chronicle
      • Shinnston News
    • By County
      • Greenbrier County
      • Clay County
      • Harrison County
      • Calhoun County
      • Pocahontas County
      • Pendleton County
      • Tucker County
  • Virginia Media, INC
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • The Enterprise
      • Fincastle Herald
      • Henry County Enterprise
      • News Messenger
      • News Journal
      • Vinton Messenger
      • New Castle Record
      • Salem Times Register
    • By County/City
      • Botetourt County
      • Henry County
      • Radford
      • Christiansburg/Blacksburg
      • Patrick County
      • Vinton
      • Roanoke
      • Salem
      • Craig County
  • National News
  • About Us
  • Submit Content
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • My account
Subscribe For $2.50/Month
No Result
View All Result
MM, LLC
  • West Virginia News
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • Mountain Messenger
      • Pocahontas Times
      • Parsons Advocate
      • Pendleton Times
      • Clay County Free Press
      • Calhoun Chronicle
      • Shinnston News
    • By County
      • Greenbrier County
      • Clay County
      • Harrison County
      • Calhoun County
      • Pocahontas County
      • Pendleton County
      • Tucker County
  • Virginia Media, INC
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • The Enterprise
      • Fincastle Herald
      • Henry County Enterprise
      • News Messenger
      • News Journal
      • Vinton Messenger
      • New Castle Record
      • Salem Times Register
    • By County/City
      • Botetourt County
      • Henry County
      • Radford
      • Christiansburg/Blacksburg
      • Patrick County
      • Vinton
      • Roanoke
      • Salem
      • Craig County
  • National News
  • About Us
  • Submit Content
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • My account
No Result
View All Result
Mountain Media, LLC
  • Virginia News
  • West Virginia News
  • National News
  • Login
  • My account
  • Subscribe
Home Local VA State News

Court tosses second lawsuit seeking new Virginia elections

August 2, 2022
in VA State News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday dismissed a second lawsuit seeking to force members of Virginia’s Republican-controlled House of Delegates to hold an unscheduled election this year.

U.S. District Judge David Novak found that federal courts lack the authority to grant the “extreme remedy” of ordering new elections for all 100 members of the state House of Delegates using newly drawn legislative maps.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Jeff Thomas, an author who has written extensively about Virginia politics and government. Thomas and two other plaintiffs — the current and former president of the Loudoun County chapter of the NAACP — alleged their voting strength and political representation were unconstitutionally diluted or weakened by the state’s failure to complete redistricting before the 2021 elections.

The 2021 elections were supposed to be the first held under constitutionally required redistricting based on the 2020 census. But because census results were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state held elections under the old legislative boundaries. The new maps were not finalized until December, a month after the elections were held.

U.S. District Judge David Novak said in his ruling that ordering new elections would “effectively overturn the results of a proper election and dissolve the current House of Delegates,” shortening the terms of the delegates from two years to one.

“Such a commutation by an unelected judiciary would disregard the will of the voters, who elected the Delegates to two-year terms,” Novak wrote.

“Plaintiffs seek a mandatory injunction that would represent a stark interference not only with Virginia’s upcoming electoral process, but also with its already completed election,” Novak added. He said the Supreme Court has consistently warned against such interference by the federal courts.

“Plaintiffs seek such an extreme remedy that it renders it unavailable,” Novak wrote.

Thomas told The Associated Press he does not plan to appeal the ruling.

“Taking away people’s rights seems to be what federal courts are doing these days, consistent with today’s radical reinterpretation of the long-settled right to one-person one-vote. It’s straight politics,” Thomas said in a statement.

In June, a three-judge U.S. District Court panel dismissed a similar lawsuit brought by Democratic Party activist Paul Goldman, finding that Goldman did not have legal standing to sue, either as a voter or a potential candidate.

Goldman’s lawsuit argued House members elected for two-year terms in November 2021 must run again in 2022 under newly redrawn maps that properly align legislative districts with population shifts.

Novak’s ruling appears to signal the end of efforts to hold new House elections this year.

“I’m glad that the court once again agreed with my office, that there is no more uncertainty for voters and legislators, and that we were able to protect the integrity and validity of our 2021 elections,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Democrats held a 55-45 majority in the House until Republicans took control of the chamber in the November 2021 elections. Republicans now hold a 52-48 majority.

“House Republicans were and remain prepared to hold our majority. We appreciate the court’s expedient decision,” said Garren Shipley, a spokesman for House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

Senate Democrats kill Youngkin-backed bill on school awards

February 4, 2023

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Senate Democrats this week voted down a priority measure for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that...

3 Virginia college students killed in West Virginia crash

February 4, 2023

MATHIAS, W.Va. (AP) — Three Virginia college students were killed when their vehicle left a road and struck a tree...

Friday’s Scores

February 4, 2023

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL= Abingdon 69, Union 52 Albemarle 68, Western Albemarle 62 Alexandria City 57, West Potomac 48 Alleghany 54,...

Q&A: Shania Twain talks rebuilding confidence with new album

February 3, 2023

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shania Twain felt the need on her new album to empower herself the same way she...

Kitley leads No. 13 Virginia Tech women past Syracuse 78-64

February 3, 2023

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, Cayla King scored 19 points with...

Thursday’s Scores

February 3, 2023

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL= Alleghany 56, James River-Buchanan 41 Central - Wise 66, Eastside 41 Centreville 48, Chantilly 46 Chatham 77,...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • My account
  • Subscribe
  • Classifieds
Call us: +1 234 JEG THEME

© 2021 Mountain Media, LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • West Virginia News
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • Mountain Messenger
      • Pocahontas Times
      • Parsons Advocate
      • Pendleton Times
      • Clay County Free Press
      • Calhoun Chronicle
      • Shinnston News
    • By County
      • Greenbrier County
      • Clay County
      • Harrison County
      • Calhoun County
      • Pocahontas County
      • Pendleton County
      • Tucker County
  • Virginia Media, INC
    • Around The State
    • By Paper
      • The Enterprise
      • Fincastle Herald
      • Henry County Enterprise
      • News Messenger
      • News Journal
      • Vinton Messenger
      • New Castle Record
      • Salem Times Register
    • By County/City
      • Botetourt County
      • Henry County
      • Radford
      • Christiansburg/Blacksburg
      • Patrick County
      • Vinton
      • Roanoke
      • Salem
      • Craig County
  • National News
  • About Us
  • Submit Content
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Login
  • My account

© 2021 Mountain Media, LLC

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Sign in
  • New account

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login