Virginia Democrat who helped lead state's redistricting push also played part in killing it

The voter-approved ballot measure was poised to give Democrats a major advantage heading into November's midterm elections, and they vastly outspent Republicans in their bid to get it passed. However, Kelsey wrote in the prevailing opinion that the sequencing in which Democrats held the referendum vote violated the state's Constitution, which requires an intervening election between the state legislature's mandatory first and second passage of the proposed constitutional amendment.

When Warner appointed Kelsey to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2002, he praised the then-Suffolk circuit judge as having shown "a keen intellect, a strong work ethic and a commitment to equal justice," according to a report from Virginia Lawyers Weekly at the time.

"Although I had not met Judge Kelsey before this process began, I have spoken to him at length, reviewed his numerous opinions and consulted with those who know him well," Warner added in 2002.

Fox News Digital reached out to Warner to inquire whether he felt the ruling was fair, but a spokesperson for the senator only referred Fox News Digital to the news release with his public statement.

The prevailing opinion written by Kelsey said that Democrats' proposed map would have replaced Virginia's current 6-5 congressional split "with a highly partisan gerrymandered map" expected to create a 10-1 advantage for a single party.

"More than three million Virginians cast their ballots in Virginia's redistricting referendum, and the majority of Virginia voters voted to push back against a President who said he is 'entitled' to more Republican seats in Congress with a temporary and responsive referendum. They made their voices heard," Spanberger said after the ruling.

"I am disappointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia's ruling, but my focus as Governor will be on ensuring that all voters have the information necessary to make their voices heard this November in the midterm elections because in those elections we - the voters - will have the final say."