Virginia state legislators have begun the complex process of amending the state constitution to provide Democrats with additional seats in the house of representatives. To amend the constitution, legislators must pass resolutions twice, once before and once after an election. If this is approved during the 2026 legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly would be allowed to redraw all 11 US House districts in Virginia.
This effort began when President Trump urged Texas to redraw their maps and provide Republicans with five additional house seats going into the midterm elections. Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom of Calfironia then initiated the process in his own state of providing Democrats with five additional house seats to cancel out Texas’ maps.
In the state of Virginia, a Democrat proposal for redistricting would include newly drawn lines for congressional districts, which in turn could create more democratically dominant areas. As a response to Newsom, house Democrats drafted a constitutional amendment which would allow the Virginia legislature to “modify one or more congressional districts” because of California’s successful actions. They’re banking on new Democratic governor Abigail Spanberger and attorney general Jay Jones to promote and fight for the new plan.
After the recent statewide elections, Democrats have secured major gains in the state government. In addition to winning all statewide executive offices, they won 64 seats in the house of delegates, having flipped thirteen seats previously held by Republicans. This constituted a major gain from their slim 51-seat majority before the elections
Combined with their existing senate majority, these gains in the house of delegates all but ensure that the legislature will approve the gerrymandering of Virginia.
Senate majority leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) criticized Republican’s efforts in states including Texas, quoted in an article from the Virginia Mercury saying, “that’s not democracy. It’s not what we signed up for, and it’s not sustainable.”
Justifying Virginia Democrats decision to redistrict, Sen. Surovell went on to explain his view that “we can’t allow a certain partisan tyrannical majority to continue to gerrymander itself in a permanent power while we sit around and say our commitment to principle.”
Whether or not Virginia passes this legislation ultimately depends upon Virginia maintaining majority democratic representation in both the house and senate. With Judges now rejecting republican attempts to block the amendment, redistricting looks more in the picture than it has in a long time.
