Virginia Ruling Leaves Democrats With A Hefty Bill

Tens of millions of dollars spent by Virginia Democrats to shift the state’s congressional delegation blue may have been for nothing after the state Supreme Court struck down the proposed map on Friday. 

Campaign filings show that Virginians for Fair Elections, the leading Democrat-aligned group backing the gerrymandered map, raised more than $64 million between January and April 2026. That total was more than double the amount raised by Republican-aligned groups opposing redistricting. 

The map, approved by voters last month, would have shifted the congressional delegation from its current 6-5 Democrat edge to a 10-1 advantage.

Virginians for Fair Elections said that the map was necessary “to fight back against Trump’s attempts to rig the 2026 midterm elections.”

Much of the money raised came from House Majority Forward, which contributed nearly $39 million, according to campaign filings. The group describes itself as a “progressive, non-profit organization committed to promoting economic growth and opportunity, social justice, environmental stewardship, and democracy in the United States of America.”

House Majority Forward is classified as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, meaning it does not have to publicly disclose its donors. 

Other similar dark money groups donated millions. The Fairness Project gave more than $12 million, the Fund for Policy Reform donated $5 million, American Opportunity Action contributed $3.6 million, and the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund added $1.5 million. These groups frequently bankroll liberal causes, from abortion to election laws. 

Additionally, the Democratic Party of Virginia contributed more than $977,000. 

Republican-aligned groups spent around $30 million to oppose the map. After the results of the April referendum, some commentators criticized the Republican Party over the spending gap. 

Virginians for Fair Maps raised more than $21 million, while the Per Aspera Policy group contributed $7.2 million to Justice for Democracy’s campaign against the redistricting plan.

Conservative commentators mocked the groups for spending so much money on the campaign, only for it to be struck down in a 4-3 decision. 

“Democrats incinerated nearly $70 million on an unconstitutional gerrymandering scheme in Virginia,” said Steve Guest, a former spokesman for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).