Virginia Dems agree on proposed 10D-1R congressional map

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Democrats have reached an agreement on a potential new congressional map in Virginia. 

It comes as Democrats are challenging a court ruling that found their redistricting efforts are illegal. 

Democrats said although the official map won’t be released until Thursday night or Friday morning, it will feature ten seats that favor Democrats, and only one that favors a Republican. 

“Donald Trump started it. Virginia’s gonna finish it,” House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) told reporters on Thursday. 

“I don’t think anybody in this room lives in Texas or in another state. We live in Virginia,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) said. 

Scott and Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) announced the new map, and said they’re protecting democracy after President Donald Trump successfully lobbied several Republican states, like Texas, to redraw their congressional map to favor Republicans. 

“At Donald Trump’s direction, they’re manipulating election maps because they know they can't win on their agenda in 2026. So instead of changing their ideas, they’re trying to rig the system. A 10-1 map levels the playing field, and we’re ready to move forward,” Scott said.

However, Virginia Republicans argue Democrats are trying to gerrymander Virginia and are ignoring Virginians who voted to create a bipartisan redistricting commission in 2020.

“Prior to this, there were partisan games by Democrats, there were partisan games by Republicans. Virginians said stop it, stop it. Now, when we can be focusing on affordability, we can be focusing on putting money in hardworking Virginians' pocket, you wanna play political games because of what they’re doing in Texas,” McDougle said.

Now, several things still need to happen for redistricting to become a reality in Virginia. 

First, the Supreme Court of Virginia would have to side with Democrats and rule that their redistricting efforts are legal. 

Then, voters would have to approve of a proposed conditional amendment that would give Democrats the power to take up mid-decade congressional redistricting. 

Any new map would also have to pass the General Assembly and be signed into law by Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger.