Virginia Democrats Unveil Plan for Temporary Redistricting Power

Strategic Insights -

Virginia Democrats have proposed a temporary plan to give themselves emergency powers to create new congressional districts, citing a national redistricting arms race triggered by President Donald Trump's efforts to create more GOP-leaning seats in red states. The proposal, which would require voter approval, would allow the General Assembly to draw new maps outside the usual 10-year redistricting process, but only when other states do the same and only for this decade.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Democrats' plan would give the General Assembly the option to create new congressional maps outside the usual 10-year redistricting process, but only when other states do the same and only for this decade.
  • The plan would require amending the Virginia constitution, a process that must pass the General Assembly twice, once before and once after a House of Delegates election.
  • Democrats hope to pass the proposal this week and consider it again in the regular General Assembly session that starts in January if they maintain their majority in the House.
  • The proposed amendment would have to go before voters in a special referendum next spring or summer, a tight timeline required if lawmakers want to use the new power to create new districts for the 2026 congressional midterms.
  • Multiple states have already redrawn their congressional boundaries to help aid Republicans, including Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Indiana.
  • The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) has donated to Virginia gubernatorial and House Democratic campaigns, but claims the donations are connected to endorsements and not the redistricting special session.
  • Republicans have vowed to fight the redistricting effort in court and have issued an advisory opinion suggesting it is too late for any constitutional amendment to be enacted before the 2026 midterms.
  • Democrats argue that state law has always held that elections officially take place on Election Day, contrary to Attorney General Jason S. Miyares' office.

Statistics:

  • The proposed constitutional amendment would have to be passed twice by the General Assembly, once before and once after a House of Delegates election, and then go before voters in a special referendum next spring or summer.
  • If the proposal is passed a second time, the new power to create new congressional districts would expire at the end of this decade.
  • Virginia is not alone in its proposal to redraw congressional boundaries, with multiple states having already taken similar action.
  • The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) has donated a combined $300,000 to Virginia gubernatorial and House Democratic campaigns.

Sources:

  • Byline: Gregory S. Schneider, Erin Cox
  • Richmond Times-Dispatch (September [no date specified], 2023)
  • Comments from House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-Scott)
  • Comments from Senate Majority Leader Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax)
  • Comments from Governor Glenn Youngkin (R)
  • Comments from Attorney General Jason S. Miyares (R)
  • Comments from Sen. William M. Stanley (R-Franklin)
  • Comments from Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria)
  • Comments from Sen. Richard Stuart (R-King George)