Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Lone Protester Bravely Defends Gerrymandering By Pacing Angrily In Front Of Virginia Supreme Court

[Screenshot/X: 8News WRIC Richmond]

A single protester paced angrily in front of the Virginia Supreme Court Friday to boldly protest its decision on the Democrats’ gerrymandering referendum.

The Virginia Supreme Court struck down the Democrats’ referendum that would have flipped four seats for Democrats. The protester, Michelle Jump, repeatedly yelled “shame” and claimed Virginians’ rights were taken away while she paced the sidewalk outside the building.

“Shame! Shame on every single Supreme Court justice who voted to take away our rights as a people! Shame! Shame! Shame for taking away our ability to tell our state what we want! … Shame! Shame!” Jump yelled.

Michelle Jump came from Henrico to protest the Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling.

She is shouting “shame” and says the Supreme Court silenced the people.

Hear more from Jump tonight on @8NEWS. pic.twitter.com/ZzeBK9qYtb

— Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) May 8, 2026

Virginia voters narrowly passed the referendum in a 51% to 48% vote on April 21. A Virginia circuit court in Tazewell County ruled the redistricting vote unconstitutional in an April 22 ruling, handing the issue to the highest court. The state’s Supreme Court ruled that the state Legislature violated the constitutional process required to place the measure on the ballot.

The state’s Constitution requires the state Legislature to vote on any constitutional amendments in two stages with an election in between to give voters the opportunity to hold their representatives accountable if they do not like the proposed amendment. The General Assembly did not approve the proposed constitutional amendment until after early voting had already begun in the 2025 House elections.

The court’s ruling means Republicans in Virginia can hold onto their five congressional seats.

Florida, Tennessee and California redrew their maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new congressional map into law on Monday which could hand Republicans four additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new map into law Thursday that eliminated the Democrats’ only congressional seat from Tennessee.

Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves told the Daily Caller that state lawmakers were preparing for a special session focused on redrawing the state’s maps after the Supreme Court struck down race-based redistricting.