Spanberger signs first bills as governor, sets referendum date for redistricting amendment
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has signed her first bills as governor of Virginia.
Spanberger has set referendum dates for four proposed constitutional amendments, including one that could allow Democrats to move forward with implementing a new congressional map in Virginia. That map, which Democrats released on Thursday, features 10 seats that favor Democrats and only one seat that favors a Republican.
“For Virginians to decide whether to move forward with a temporary and targeted redistricting effort," Spanberger said about the amendment that, if passed, will allow Democrats to take up mid-decade congressional redistricting.
Most Virginians are optimistic about Spanberger, support redistricting: report
Spanberger set the redistricting referendum for April 21, which will only happen if the Supreme Court of Virginia overturns a previous court ruling that found Democrats' redistricting efforts illegal.
Meanwhile, Spanberger also signed bills that set a Nov. 3 referendum for voters to consider the remaining three amendments on abortion rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for convicted felons.
However, Republicans are criticizing Spanberger’s first legislative actions, saying they don’t focus on the issue Virginians are most concerned about: affordability.
“It’s really mind-boggling that the first bill that she would sign is one that is going to take a step in the direction of one of the most breathtaking political gerrymandering exercises in Virginia and perhaps American history,” Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham) told 8News.
Meanwhile, while Democrats await a hearing on their appeal, for which a date has not been set, they have taken the first step toward passing their new proposed congressional map. On Friday, the House Appropriations Committee approved the map, sending it to the full House of Delegates.
