Friday, November 7

THIS WEEK

Republicans sue to block redistricting in California, Virginia
Virginia is illegally rejecting student voter registrations, lawsuit says

REDISTRICTING

Republicans sue to block redistricting in California, Virginia

You may have heard Republicans in California and Virginia complaining this week about partisan gerrymandering – which is funny, because they didn’t have a problem with it in Texas, Missouri or North Carolina.

But now that the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, with Democrats organizing to counter President Donald Trump’s nationwide gerrymandering scheme, we’re hearing some Republicans suddenly calling for keeping the redistricting process safe from partisanship.

So far, courts have denied two efforts to block Democrats from moving forward with redistricting in Virginia.

The first was filed by Republican members of the Virginia Redistricting Commission (including three lawmakers). The second came from a group of three Virginia circuit court clerks who dropped their lawsuit this week. Neither challenge stopped Democrats from advancing a proposed constitutional amendment allowing them to redraw the map. Before the measure can go to voters for approval, Democrats will need to pass it again when the new session convenes in January. They just picked up 13 more seats in the Virginia House of Delegates Tuesday.

In California, Republicans’ failed redistricting litigation count is up to nearly half a dozen.

The California Republican Party (along with other plaintiffs) immediately filed a lawsuit Wednesday to block Proposition 50 as soon as California voters greenlit the plan to redraw the state’s congressional map. They’re now arguing the state is violating the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments by drawing district lines based on race “to favor Hispanic voters.”

It’s the third California redistricting lawsuit filed by the Dhillon Law Group, a firm founded by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who runs the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division. The firm’s previous lawsuits were not successful. Read more about the California legal challenges here.

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VOTING

Virginia is illegally rejecting student voter registrations, lawsuit says

The NAACP in Virginia filed a lawsuit this week alleging state election officials have wrongfully rejected “innumerable” college students’ voter registration applications and same-day registration provisional ballots based on missing address information that isn’t required by law.

College students at several schools in Virginia have received rejections informing them they must provide missing address information like a dormitory name, dormitory street address and dormitory room number, according to the complaint – in violation of the Materiality Provision of the Civil Rights Act, as well as the First and Fourth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

The statewide Virginia NAACP brought the lawsuit on behalf of its members attending Virginia schools, asking the court to order election officials to stop rejecting the applications based on the missing information.

Unfortunately, Virginia doesn’t have an isolated problem. We already know what Trump allies like Cleta Mitchell think about voting on college campuses. Read more about the Virginia lawsuit here.

OPINION

What Comes Next After the 2025 Elections

Democracy was on the ballot this week – and it won. Resoundingly. But in some ways, unfortunately, that could make the fight even harder in 2026.

“History has taught us that this is precisely when Donald Trump is most dangerous — and when Republicans turn to voter suppression, election subversion and worse. With the 2026 midterm elections less than a year away, Trump is already plotting his next moves,” Marc wrote after Tuesday’s election, explaining what it means for the year to come. Read more here.

NEW EPISODE

Every Gerrymandering Case, Explained

Trump and the Republican Party are leading a coordinated redistricting and gerrymandering campaign to rig upcoming elections and weaken democracy. Marc exposes how these maps threaten fair representation, expand voter suppression, and test the limits of election law. Through bold litigation, public activism, and sustained political engagement, Democrats and voters can still fight back for fair maps and transparent election processes. Watch it on YouTube here.

What We’re Doing

Democracy Docket reporter Jen Rice here. Understandably, this wasn’t the top story from the New York mayoral election (fair enough), but you may have heard the NYC Board of Elections made a special sticker this year for early voters who cast their ballots on Halloween. I’m not a New York voter, but I can’t stress enough how exciting this was for devoted Halloween voters everywhere like me. When I lived in Houston, I always early-voted in costume on Halloween with friends and hosted a spooky dinner after.

Now, I’m a new D.C. voter (sadly, nothing on the ballot this time) and I can’t believe this happened: the NYC Board of Elections responded to my social media plea begging anyone to send me their sticker by sending me the best mail ever. It even came with a temporary tattoo version of the sticker. I think this might be the beginning of a lifelong collection. If you’re a voting sticker enthusiast, too, I’d love to hear from you. What are the best voting stickers you’ve saved? Please send pics of your favorites or full collection – my email is [email protected].