The Virginia Supreme Court’s decision striking down Democrats’ congressional redistricting referendum is fueling finger-pointing inside Democratic circles, with strategists and operatives openly questioning whether delays, mixed messaging, and a rushed rollout doomed the effort from the start.

“Unfortunately, we were caught flat-footed once again,” one Virginia-based Democratic strategist told the Washington Examiner, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The redistricting battles on the Republican side have been going on for a while now, and our side should have been more proactive and saw this coming earlier. Since we didn’t do that, it is now costing us this midterm election.”