Virginia Enters National Redistricting Battle, Aimed at Delivering Additional Democrats to Congress

Strategic Insights -

Virginia state lawmakers have announced plans to convene a special session to consider legislation that could lead to the redrawing of the state's congressional maps, with the aim of delivering two or three additional Democrats to Washington. The move comes in response to Republican efforts to gain seats in Congress in states such as Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri, where redistricting has moved additional seats into likely Republican wins.

Key Takeaways:

  • The current 6-5 split in Virginia's congressional delegation favors Democrats by one member.
  • The Democratic Virginia house speaker, Don Scott, has alerted members to a reconvening of a special session to consider legislation, although redistricting is not explicitly stated as a topic.
  • The move is part of a broader national effort by Democrats to counter Republican attempts to gain seats in Congress through gerrymandering.
  • Virginia's redistricting commission, established in 2020, was intended to take apportionment out of the hands of the closely-divided legislature.
  • Undoing the commission to conduct partisan redistricting would require a constitutional amendment to pass in two successive legislatures and be enacted by ballot referendum.
  • Democrats must hold both chambers of the general assembly in the November election to achieve this.
  • The governor of Virginia does not have the power to veto redistricting legislation.
  • Virginia's redistricting play comes after neighboring North Carolina's legislature passed a measure to redraw its maps, replacing thousands of Democratic voters with Republicans.
  • The States Project, a political group working to create Democratic majorities in state legislatures, has announced a $5m donation to shore up Virginia's Democratic candidates.

Statistics:

  • Virginia currently has a 6-5 split in its congressional delegation, favoring Democrats by one member.
  • The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has warned that Democrats cannot unilaterally disarm and must pursue every available tool to counter Republican attempts to steal the midterms.
  • Texas' redistricting has moved five additional seats into likely Republican wins.
  • Missouri added one likely Republican seat, while North Carolina added one earlier this week.
  • The Democratic majority in Virginia's general assembly would need to hold at least 51 seats in both chambers to achieve a constitutional amendment.

Sources:

  • "Virginia enters national redistricting battle" by [undisclosed author], no date
  • Letter from Democratic Virginia house speaker Don Scott to members (no date)
  • Statement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (no date)
  • "The States Project announces $5m donation to Virginia Democrats" (no date)
  • Amendment to the Virginia state constitution, 2020 (no date)