Gov. Spanberger votes yes on Virginia’s redistricting referendum, Rep. Wittman responds

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) has cast her ballot in Virginia's redistricting referendum.

Spanberger voted in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Democratic-controlled General Assembly the power to implement a new congressional map in Virginia.

“Virginia has the opportunity to take a real stand in this moment,” Spanberger told reporters after voting early on Friday. 

That proposed map, which has already been drawn and approved by lawmakers, would include ten seats that favor Democrats and only one that favors a Republican. 

After her vote, Spanberger told reporters she supports the amendment because it’s temporary and doesn’t get rid of Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting commission in the future. 

“This amendment is temporary, is temporary and responsive to this moment in time where we have a president who has gone to other states seeking additional congressional seats saying he’s quote entitled to them,” Spanberger said.

However, at an event in Chesterfield, Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), whose path to reelection would become considerably more difficult if Virginia does redistrict, responded to Spanberger. 

“I would disagree with the governor. I would go back to her words where she said gerrymandering is not in the interest of our democracy, that gerrymandering should be not allowed and we should have a bipartisan process," said Wittman. "Why the 180 degree turnaround?"

Wittman said the proposed map would disenfranchise many Virginians, including those who live in rural communities because many of the proposed districts are concentrated in Northern Virginia. 

"The bottom line is this is not good for Virginia,” Wittman told 8News. “There was a recent study done by a political scientist. It said I’m gonna do an objective study of this to see what this is all about. He made through that analysis the conclusion that this is the most extreme gerrymander, not just in the entire nation, but in the last 25 years.”

Early voting continues through April 18.