The Supreme Court of Virginia on Wednesday (local time) denied the request by Attorney General Jay Jones (Democrat) to lift the stay on the certification of the results of the state's redistricting referendum.

This decision followed a Tazewell County Circuit Court judge's block on the certification of the referendum while legal challenges to it were ongoing.

Judge Jack Hurley's ruling on the 22nd, in a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) against the Virginia Secretary of Elections, nullified the referendum results, stating that "the procedures underlying the referendum violated several state laws, and confirming the results would be detrimental to Republican lawmakers in the state," which garnered significant attention.

The referendum has faced several challenges. Previously, Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland of the Richmond Circuit Court dismissed an objection filed by Republicans after the referendum concluded.

In her ruling, Judge Thorne-Begland stated that the court's role is to "determine whether those to whom we have delegated authority have exercised that authority in accordance with their constitutional obligations," and "the answer to that question, from this court, is yes."

With back-and-forth rulings, the Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday means that the referendum results will remain unconfirmed until the Supreme Court makes a determination on its constitutionality.

Virginia voters narrowly approved the referendum, which paved the way for a redrawing of congressional districts that would heavily favor the current ruling Democratic Party.

Following the referendum results, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new congressional map in response. Seemingly in retaliation for Virginia's apparent intent to shift four seats from Republican to Democratic control, the proposed new map in Florida was drawn to shift four Democratic seats to Republican control.

In an op-ed for the Daily Wire on Wednesday, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli stated, "This Monday, just six days after the Virginia General Assembly's redistricting referendum, the Supreme Court of Virginia heard oral arguments on alleged constitutional and statutory violations committed by Democrat legislators as they attempt to amend the Virginia Constitution to abolish the bipartisan redistricting commission in 2025."

He characterized the new district map pushed by Virginia Democrats as a redistricting "to get rid of Trump."

He concluded, "Considering the court's more lenient approach to two other issues during oral arguments—whether the Democrat-controlled legislature could pivot the focus of a special session from the state budget to the unexpected addition of a constitutional amendment, and whether the court clerk violated the Virginia statute requiring potential constitutional amendments to be posted 90 days prior to an election (an impossibility as this amendment did not exist until the 2025 election was nearly over)—I anticipate that this court will quickly declare the referendum unconstitutional."

It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will nullify the referendum results, thereby preserving Virginia's current 6-5 Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

By Hong Seong-gu, NNP Chief Reporter / Special Correspondent for this paper NNP info@newsandpost.com