RNC v. Koski

The RNC, alongside the NRCC and two GOP congressmen, sued Steven Koski (a high-ranking official at the Virginia Department of Elections) to stop the state from certifying and implementing the constitutional amendment that allows Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade.

The RNC’s legal team presented a "four-pronged" attack against the amendment:

• The "Two-Session" Rule: This is the most significant constitutional claim. The RNC argues that Article XII, Section 1 requires a constitutional amendment to be passed by two separately elected General Assemblies. They claim Democrats "short-circuited" this by passing it twice within a single legislative term without an intervening election.
• The "90-Day" Rule: Under Virginia law, there is a mandated 90-day waiting period between the final passage of an amendment and the start of voting. Because early voting for the special election began on March 6, the RNC argues the state missed the deadline by several weeks.
• "Misleading" Ballot Language: The RNC claims the question posed to voters—which asked if they wanted to "restore fairness" to redistricting—was a partisan "Trojan Horse" that failed to tell voters it would actually abolish the nonpartisan commission.
• Single-Subject Violation: They argue the legislation included multiple distinct legal changes, violating the state's "single subject" rule for bill titles.

This case is the "ground zero" of a national redistricting war.

• The Stakes: If the amendment stands, Virginia is projected to shift from a 6–5 Democratic edge to a 10–1 advantage.
• The National Context: Democrats are using this map to offset Republican redistricting gains in states like Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri. The GOP views this lawsuit as their last line of defense to prevent a "Democratic gerrymander" that could decide control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms.