Democrats Call for Special Session to Redraw Virginia's Congressional Districts

Strategic Insights -

Virginia's Democrats have called for a special session to redraw the state's congressional districts, a move seen as an effort to gain an upper hand in the upcoming 2026 midterm congressional elections. This comes after President Donald Trump's pressure on Texas and other Republican-leaning states to redistrict. Democrats face a challenging task, as they will have to work through numerous votes and legal technicalities to successfully redraw the districts. Despite their current majority in the General Assembly, they must also maintain their numbers in the House of Delegates through the November 2025 election.

Key Takeaways:

  • Democrats in Virginia are seeking to redraw the state's congressional districts to give themselves an upper hand in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.
  • The effort mirrors those by legislators in California to offset additional seats Republicans may gain in the House of Representatives.
  • Democrats will have to work through numerous votes and legal technicalities to successfully redistrict in Virginia.
  • The state's current redistricting process gives authority to a nonpartisan commission, which was approved by Virginians through a ballot referendum in 2020.
  • To repeal the constitutional amendment that gave sole authority to the nonpartisan commission, Democrats will have to pass a new amendment within months.
  • An amendment to the Virginia constitution must pass the General Assembly twice between two different sessions before it is left up to voters in a statewide referendum.
  • If Democrats are successful, a referendum could be held as early as April 2026.
  • The proposed amendment, carried by Del. Rodney Willet, D-Henrico, would give the General Assembly authority to redistrict only in the event of certain circumstances, such as other states conducting redistricting outside of their standard cycles.
  • No proposed maps have been publicized, but Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas has mused the creation of a map with 10 out of the 11 congressional districts favoring Democrats.
  • Senators have framed their efforts as less about partisan differences and more about the future of America.
  • The five Republican congressional representatives in Virginia have denounced Democrats' actions, citing concerns about undoing the will of voters.
  • Republican-leaning states like Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Utah have taken steps to redistrict, following Trump's requests.

Statistics:

  • Virginia has 11 congressional seats, with six held by Democrats and five held by Republicans.
  • The new constitutional amendment must pass the General Assembly twice within a two-year period before being put up to a statewide referendum.
  • If Democrats are successful, a referendum could be held as early as April 2026, just two months before the primary elections for congressional nominees.
  • The National Democratic Redistricting Committee has donated $150,000 each to the House Democratic Caucus and Abigail Spanberger's campaign for governor.

Sources:

  • Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor
  • Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP)
  • Associated Press
  • Del. Rodney Willet, D-Henrico
  • Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth
  • Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax
  • Ninth District Rep. Morgan Griffith
  • Sixth District Rep. Ben Cline
  • VCU associate political science professor John Aughenbaugh