Virginia Voters to Decide on Congressional Redistricting in Special Election
Virginia voters will soon have a say in whether to temporarily alter the state’s congressional districts, setting the stage for a potentially significant shift in the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. A special election is scheduled for , with early voting beginning on .
The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts, a move proponents say is necessary to counter what they describe as partisan mapmaking in other states. Opponents argue it represents an unprecedented and unlawful power grab.
Two groups have already formed around the issue: Virginians for Fair Elections, advocating for approval of the amendment, and Virginians for Fair Maps, campaigning against it. Jason Miyares, with Virginians for Fair Maps and a former Republican candidate for attorney general, stated, “I’m going to fight this by any means necessary.”
The path to the ballot wasn’t straightforward. While a lower court initially attempted to block the special election, the Virginia Supreme Court overturned that decision on , allowing the election to proceed. However, the Supreme Court will still rule on the legality of the process used to establish the election itself, but that ruling will come *after* the vote takes place.
Keren Dongo, with Virginians for Fair Elections, explained the rationale behind the proposed amendment. “There is a general desire to meaningfully push back and speak up, and What we have is giving voters an opportunity to do that,” she said. She described the campaign as a grassroots effort, with supporters engaging in traditional outreach methods like door-knocking and community meetings. “There is no principal face of this campaign,” Dongo added. “It really is Virginians, so it’s people speaking up at their book club or at their community meetings and saying, ‘This what I’m doing, this is what I’m involved in and here’s why.’”
Opponents of the amendment are equally prepared for a vigorous campaign. Virginia House Minority Leader Del. Terry Kilgore stated, “We’re ready to roll. We’re getting our folks together and we’re going to make a case to Virginians that this is unfair, this is unprecedented and quite frankly it’s against the law, we believe, and we’ll ultimately win in court.”
Political analyst Bob Holsworth believes the “yes” vote campaign may start with an advantage, largely due to the current political climate in Virginia. “I think the Democrats begin with an initial advantage largely because I think they are going to try to make this one more referendum on Donald Trump, and at least in Virginia, there has been a big appetite for that right now,” Holsworth said.
Currently, Virginia Democrats hold six of the state’s 11 U.S. House seats. However, proponents of the amendment suggest a redrawn map could potentially allow them to win up to 10 seats in the upcoming midterm elections. The amendment aims to address concerns about fairness in congressional representation, mirroring similar redistricting battles occurring across the nation.
The outcome of the special election and the subsequent Supreme Court ruling will have significant implications for Virginia’s congressional representation and the broader political landscape. Voters face a critical decision that could reshape the state’s influence in Washington.
