Gavin Newsom accuses MAGA Republicans of ‘rigging’ elections after Virginia map ruling

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: California Gov Gavin Newsom accused MAGA Republicans of “rigging” elections on Friday after Virginia’s Supreme Court blocked a Democratic-backed congressional map. The ruling keeps Virginia’s current 6-5 map in place instead of shifting it heavily in Democrats’ favor ahead of the November midterms.

Newsom reacted to the decision in a post on X, where he warned Republicans are gaining an advantage through redistricting in several states.

“Virginia’s voter-approved maps thrown out,” Newsom wrote.

“MAGA has rigged the system,” he added.

Gavin Newsom says Republicans are gaining seats through redistricting

Newsom pointed to multiple Republican-led states where the GOP could potentially gain more congressional seats through new district maps.

According to the California governor, Republicans in Tennessee and Missouri could each gain one more seat, while North Carolina could add two Republican seats.

He also claimed Republicans could gain four more seats in Florida and five in Texas through redistricting efforts.

The comments come as Newsom continues pushing back against President Donald Trump’s calls for Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps before the midterm elections.

Last year, Newsom backed Proposition 50 in California, a measure designed to improve Democrats’ chances of gaining four or five seats in the state. California voters approved the measure.

Virginia court ruling sparks political fight between Democrats and Republicans

Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the Democratic-backed redistricting referendum did not follow proper procedures.

The proposed map would have given Democrats a strong 10-1 edge in the state’s congressional delegation. For now, however, the existing 6-5 map will stay in place.

Virginia voters had approved a constitutional amendment last month allowing a mid-decade redraw of congressional districts, but the court ruling temporarily stopped the effort.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said Democrats still plan to continue fighting the decision.

“We respect the court. But we will keep fighting for a democracy where voters — not politicians — have the final say,” Scott said in a statement.

He also added that the ruling does not erase what voters approved.

“No decision can erase what Virginians made clear at the ballot box,” he said.

Donald Trump praises Virginia ruling as Tennessee faces legal challenge

Trump celebrated the Virginia decision on Truth Social, calling it “a huge win for the Republican Party, and America.”

“The Virginia Supreme Court has just struck down the Democrats’ horrible gerrymander,” Trump wrote.

The Virginia ruling comes shortly after the US Supreme Court ruled against a second Black-majority district in Louisiana, calling it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Gov Bill Lee approved a new Republican-backed congressional map on Thursday, leading the NAACP to file an emergency petition challenging the move.

Critics say the Tennessee map breaks apart the state’s only majority-Black congressional district and threatens Democratic Rep Steve Cohen, who has already promised legal action against the new district lines.