Virginia Senate passes redistricting resolution

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Senate has followed the Virginia House of Delegates in passing a proposed Constitutional Amendment on Friday that could allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia's congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Currently, Virginia's congressional maps are drawn by a bipartisan redistricting commission every 10 years after each new census -- most recently in 2020. The new law will now also allow lawmakers to redraw maps at mid-decade intervals through 2030.

Republican lawmakers have expressed their criticism, calling the amendment a "power grab" that ignores the Virginia voters who approved a bipartisan redistricting process five years ago. Earlier this week, GOP members from the redistricting commission filed a civil suit attempting to block the special legislative session.

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

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Since the Virginia Senate approved the amendment on Friday and the House of Delegates approved it on Wednesday, the General Assembly must pass it again next year, before being considered by voters in a referendum.

If voters approve the referendum next year, lawmakers can redraw the maps in the spring ahead of the 2026 midterms.