Valley political leaders react after state Supreme Court strikes down referendum

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - After the Virginia Supreme Court nullified the results of the April 21 redistricting referendum, Democrats and Republicans across the commonwealth are reacting to the 4-3 decision.

Some Republicans, like Marshall Pattie in Augusta County, say Friday’s decision was the correct one - but spending the last few months on a special election was a waste of time and money.

“Taxpayers spent 5 to 10 million dollars on the election themselves and in the end, what do we get? Right back to where we began,” said Pattie a member of the Virginia 6th District Republican Committee. “So it was a waste of time, a waste of money, but I was thrilled that we ended up winning this overall,” Pattie,

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Harrisonburg Democratic Committee, Dr. Jeff Pierson, expressed frustration that the justices would throw out the election results after allowing the race to occur just months prior.

“It’s just shocking that they would overturn the will of the people 4-3 republican controlled court, really went against a vote that’s kind of hard to believe,” Pierson said.

State Democrats said Friday they will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.