Democrats in the Virginia Senate approve redistricting amendment

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Senate has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that could open the door to lawmakers redrawing Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Senate passed the measure after the House of Delegates did the same earlier this week. 

The amendment would allow the General Assembly to redraw the maps because other states like California and Texas have done the same. 

“This resolution does not save democracy. This resolution is a break-glass maneuver for a truly unprecedented moment,” said Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico).

Currently, Virginia’s congressional maps are drawn through a bipartisan process every 10 years after a new census is completed. However, Virginia Democrats argue that allowing lawmakers to replace that process mid-decade with a map of their own is necessary because several Republican-led states have redrawn their maps to their benefit to hurt Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.

“The President knows that if 2026 is a fair fight, Republicans will lose seats and he will face a legislative branch willing to stand up to him and check his power,” said VanValkenburg.

However, Republicans say the amendment is a power grab.

“This is not giving the public an option. This is to draw 10 Democratic congressional seats and one Republican congressional seat in Virginia,” explained Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover).

Republicans are saying that the move by Democrats turns a blind eye to Virginia voters who approved the bipartisan redistricting process via a referendum in 2020.

“What the voters of Virginia said is we expect redistricting to be an issue that we work across the aisle on. That we link arms, that it not be a cats and dogs bill, that it be something that we expect you to work with your colleagues to get resolved,” said Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham).

Despite the amendment's passage in both chambers, Virginia is still several months away from a new congressional map. That’s because the General Assembly will need to pass the proposed constitutional amendment again next year before it can be considered by voters in a referendum. If voters approve of the amendment, then lawmakers can redraw the maps next spring in time for the 2026 midterm elections.