Dems take first step toward redrawing Virginia’s congressional districts

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Democrats have taken the first step toward redistricting Virginia. 

On Monday, Oct. 27, the House of Delegates agreed to alter the scope of the current special session, allowing the chamber to take up redistricting. 

To the ire of Republicans, Democrats argued that Republican-led efforts to gerrymander states across the nation have forced them to consider redrawing Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 

“So the trigger has already been pulled when it comes to attacks on our democracy,” Delegate Cia Price (D-Newport News), who chairs the House Privileges and Elections Committee, told reporters. 

“Just because a bad idea was proposed and even taken up by a few of our sister states, such as North Carolina or California, is not a reason for Virginia to follow suit,” said Delegate Lee Ware (R-Powhatan). 

Currently, a bipartisan commission draws Virginia’s congressional districts every ten years after a new census is completed. However, Republicans argue Democrats are trying to get rid of that commission, something they say will overturn the will of Virginia voters, who approved the commission via a constitutional amendment in 2020. 

“Think about this, they want to go away from a bipartisan redistricting commission, and they want to put in place of that a small handful of Democrat elected officials in a dark room somewhere to make decisions about the future districts here in Virginia,” Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) told reporters. 

For their part, Democrats haven’t released the actual language of the proposed amendment yet. However, Delegate Rodney Willett (D-Henrico) says he’ll introduce it on Wednesday, and it won’t get rid of the bipartisan commission altogether. 

“The commission continues on, there’s a decennial process for that, so we will absolutely stick to that, that’s what’s in the constitution.  This is to create again, not a mandate, but an option in the interim, in between the decennial redistricting to do something when there’s an extraordinary circumstance,” Willett said.

The General Assembly would have to pass any proposed constitutional amendment before Election Day this year, and again next year before it could be considered by voters.

As for what’s next during the special session, the Senate needs to change the rules to take up redistricting, something we expect to happen by Wednesday.