How Much Virginians Paid For Democrats To Gerrymander Their Map

Last October, then-Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-VA) warned Democrats that their unconstitutional redistricting gamble would do little more than waste the taxpayers’ time and money.

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the newly-drawn congressional map — which skews dramatically in favor of Democrats — is flagrantly unconstitutional. But when all was said and done, as Miyares pointed out, the measure had already run up a $70 million tab — some of which was to be paid by taxpayers.

HB 1384, the amendment that set the special election, set aside $5 million of taxpayer money in order to pay for that election — but it did not cap the amount, meaning that supplemental funding may have been added to that as needed.

In addition to the taxpayer dollars, millions were spent on ads promoting the measure.

“If Abigail Spanberger and Virginia Democrats had paid attention my October 2025 AG’s Opinion that made clear this scheme was unconstitutional and illegal, they could have saved more than $70 million, countless headaches, and months of obnoxious television ads defending the indefensible,” Miyares said in a statement posted to X. “Instead, they ignored the law, wasted taxpayer money on running a special election, and dragged Virginians through a completely avoidable mess.”

If Abigail Spanberger and Virginia Democrats had paid attention my October 2025 AG’s Opinion that made clear this scheme was unconstitutional and illegal, they could have saved more than $70 million, countless headaches, and months of obnoxious television ads defending the… https://t.co/787vvZRHZD

— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) May 8, 2026

Miyares issued his opinion on October 28, 2025, saying in part, “My office just issued an official opinion explaining that the constitutionally required process to amend the Virginia Constitution cannot be short-circuited by a last-minute vote of the General Assembly taken during an ongoing election.”

My office just issued an official opinion explaining that the constitutionally required process to amend the Virginia Constitution cannot be short-circuited by a last-minute vote of the General Assembly taken during an ongoing election. pic.twitter.com/vKWweCbKSp

— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) October 28, 2025

The Virginia Supreme Court ultimately agreed with Miyares, ruling on Friday 4-3 that irregularities in the process had resulted in a new map that would not stand.

“In this case, the Commonwealth submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner that violated the intervening-election requirement in Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia,” the Court held, adding, “This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void.”

So the Commonwealth of Virginia is right back where it started — albeit a bit poorer — for the Democrats’ efforts to put a thumb in the midterm scales.