In the latest redistricting battle, voters in Virginia have approved a measure to redraw that state’s congressional lines. The state’s Democrats have portrayed the political gerrymandering as a temporary measure enacted in reaction to Republican efforts to add GOP seats in predominantly red states. With several states having redrawn their district lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Virginia’s move could tip control of the House toward Democrats.

Virginia Democrats appeal to Black voters, win vote to redraw electoral map

Multiple news agencies projected Tuesday night that a Democratic-led effort on redistricting in Virginia had been approved by voters in a statewide referendum on the issue. Virginia voters approved of the plan to allow the Democratic-controlled government to temporarily redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of November’s congressional elections. The new map is expected to create a major shift in the state’s congressional delegation. Currently, six Democrats and five Republicans represent Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives; the new map could shift that number to 10 Democratic representatives and only one Republican.

As noted by TheGrio, Black voters were seen as crucial for Democrats winning Tuesday’s referendum, which was framed as a way of protecting voting rights for Black people and others against Republican attempts to unfairly skew the midterm election. Svante Myrick, president and CEO of People For the American Way, told TheGrio before the election that “this measure in Virginia, if passed, will protect Black voters and give all voters a fair shot at representation.” Popular Black politicians campaigned in favor of the proposed redistricting. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, speaking at a Black church in Virginia, portrayed the referendum as a chance to counteract Republican efforts to restrict voting. “Certain people are trying to nationalize elections and place federal agents to guard ballot boxes to ‘stop fraud,’ even when they know that is a direct act of voter suppression,” Moore said. Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, also campaigned for the Virginia referendum and celebrated the approval of the redistricting plan. ‘Congratulations, Virginia!” Obama posted on social media. ‘Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back.’

Partisan gerrymandering ahead of midterm elections

Virginia’s approval of a new congressional map is the latest in a partisan battle to redraw district lines ahead of the midterm elections. The race to gerrymander was kicked off when President Donald Trump pressured Republican-led state governments to redraw their maps in order to ensure that the GOP holds the House, which it currently holds with a very narrow majority. Texas was the largest Republican state to heed Trump’s call, overcoming Democratic opposition to add several Republican-leaning seats and forcing sitting Democrats such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett to run against one another or seek other office. Other Republican-controlled states, such as North Carolina and Missouri, have also redrawn their maps to favor the GOP, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session for late April to redraw that state’s congressional districts.

In retaliation to these GOP moves, Democrats have sought to redraw district lines in states they control, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom successfully promoted a redistricting measure that was passed by referendum in that state in November. With so many states redrawing congressional lines, and with voting under these new maps yet to take place, the net impact of this wave of gerrymandering remains to be seen. However, the Virginia redistricting is poised to wipe out most or all of the advantage that Republicans have gained so far in the process. Eric Holder, who served as U.S. Attorney General under Obama and now chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, praised the outcome of Tuesday’s referendum. Virginian voters, Holder said in his statement, “didn’t just win an election — they have stopped Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the 2026 midterms in its tracks and defended the principle that elections should be fair, competitive, and decided by the people.” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who pushed the referendum, posted on social media, “The President ordered states to draw more Republican seats in Congress because he knows he cannot win with his record.” She also urged voters to “get to work to win in November.”

L. Louise Lucas, president pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate, posted an even more pointed message toward Trump and Republicans: “You all started it, and we f—ing finished it.”