NEW: Bombshell Court Filing Shakes Up Closely Watched State House Race

A new court filing claims that a Democratic Party candidate in a tightly-contested, GOP-controlled race for the Virginia House of Delegates doesn’t live in the district she is seeking to represent. The stretch run shakeup could have massive implications on control of the Virginia State House, as Democrats are currently favored to hold on to their slim majority next month.

Three voters in Stafford County have filed a court challenge alleging that Stacey Carroll, the Democrat candidate in Virginia’s 64th District, actually lives in the neighboring Democrat-majority 23rd. The complaint seeks to have Carroll removed from the ballot.

Plaintiffs Stephen Schwartz, Judith Anne Parker and Juliet Schweiter alleged Carroll continues to live near US-1 in Aquia, Virginia, at the southern edge of the 23rd district. She does so, the plaintiffs alleged, despite filing to run for a race about seven miles southwestward near Stafford Court House, Virginia, in the 64th, Fox News reported.

The local residents are asking the court to throw out Carroll’s voter registration at the Stafford address, which they argue would disqualify her from the ballot. That address is reportedly registered to another family. A 1966 Virginia court ruling places the burden of proof-of-residency on the voter registrant or ballot applicant, according to The Virginia Mercury.

While seemingly a local matter, a potential ruling could have wide-ranging effects control of the state legislature, as Democrats seek to retain control of their one-seat majority in the chamber .If her candidacy stands, Carroll will face Republican Del. Paul Milde of Stafford in a district that narrowly went in favor of President Donald Trump in 2024.

If the court finds that Carroll does indeed live in Aquia, her home district seat would be that of Democratic Del. Candi King of Prince William, a suburban county that was comfortably carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris last November.

Democrats won control of the Virginia House of Delegates after Republicans managed to flip it in the historic 2021 election, which saw the election of Republican Governor Glen Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Republicans are currently dealing with one vacancy after House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Luray, resigned to briefly become U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.