The Virginia Supreme Court invalidates a Democratic-backed congressional redistricting plan, preserving current maps and delivering a boost to Republicans ahead of the 2024 midterms. The court ruled the amendment process violated the state constitution, nullifying the recent voter-approved referendum.
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Virginia voters approved a new congressional map favoring Democrats, potentially shifting up to four House seats ahead of the midterm elections. The referendum replaces bipartisan-drawn districts with those created by the Democratic legislature, sparking legal challenges from Republicans.
Ohio voters have approved a ballot measure that guarantees the right to reproductive medical treatment, including abortion, in the state constitution. This victory comes on the heels of Tuesday's legislative elections in Virginia, where Democrats who campaigned on protecting abortion rights swept the General Assembly. The passage of Issue 1 marks another major victory for abortion-rights advocates in the fight to protect reproductive rights, which is seen as a microcosm of other closely divided states that will be critical in next year's presidential election.
A federal judge in Georgia has ordered the state to redraw its congressional and legislative maps, adding one majority-Black congressional district and seven majority-Black legislative districts. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled that the current maps discriminated against Black voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and gave the state until December 8th to take action. This is a major victory for voting rights activists, who have long argued that the state's maps were drawn in a way that diluted the voting power of Black voters.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) has rejected calls from some members of his party to hold a special session of the General Assembly to censure or remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, citing the potential unconstitutionality of such an action. Kemp also noted that the state has a process in place to deal with any misconduct by elected officials, and has called for an independent audit of the 2020 election results. Willis is currently overseeing the indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants on felony charges as part of her investigation into their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The Republican-led General Assembly in North Carolina has passed a bill that bars medical professionals from providing hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs and surgical gender-transition procedures to minors, with limited exceptions. The bill has been met with strong opposition from LGBTQ+ advocates, while supporters argue it is necessary to protect children from making irreversible decisions. The bill’s passage marks a major victory for social conservatives in North Carolina and sets a precedent for other states.
A judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of South Carolina's new abortion ban at around six weeks of pregnancy, pending review by the state Supreme Court. The law, which was passed by the General Assembly on Tuesday, is similar to a 2021 ban on abortion once cardiac activity can be detected. The state Supreme Court previously ruled that the 2021 law violated the state constitution's right to privacy. The decision to halt the implementation of the new law means South Carolina reverts back to a ban at about 20 weeks after fertilization, for now.