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Virginia voters back redistricting overhaul
Virginia has approved a ballot measure to redraw its congressional map, a move that could shift up to four Republican-held House seats toward Democrats ahead of November's midterm elections.
National redistricting race intensifies
The decision follows a broader push by states to adjust voting districts mid-decade, sparked by former President Donald Trump's call for conservative-led states to bolster Republican control of the narrowly divided US House. Virginia now joins Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri, where GOP-led redistricting has already tilted maps in the party's favor.
California, led by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, responded last year by suspending its independent redistricting process, ultimately securing five additional Democratic-leaning districts. Utah also adopted a court-imposed map that may benefit Democrats in one seat.
Partisan reactions and legal threats
Democratic leaders celebrated the outcome as a counterbalance to Republican efforts. "Virginia just changed the trajectory of the 2026 midterms," said Don Scott, the Democratic speaker of Virginia's House of Delegates, in a social media post. "At a moment when Trump and his allies are trying to lock in power before voters have a say, Virginians stepped up and leveled the playing field."
Former Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin condemned the measure as an "egregious power grab," urging the Virginia Supreme Court to block it. "This unconstitutional process will disenfranchise millions of Virginians," he wrote on X.
Trump weighed in on Monday, warning that a Democratic House majority would be "a disaster." He criticized gerrymandering-though the practice is only illegal in the US if it targets voters by race.
Financial and political stakes
The referendum became Virginia's costliest ballot measure ever, with over $80 million raised by both sides, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The new map could expand Democratic representation in Virginia's congressional delegation from six to as many as 10 of the state's 11 seats.
Historically, the president's party loses House seats in midterms. A Democratic victory in November would not only stall Trump's agenda but could also enable congressional investigations led by the party.
What's next
Legal challenges are expected, with opponents likely to argue the measure violates state constitutional provisions. The Virginia Supreme Court will play a pivotal role in determining whether the new districts take effect before the November elections.
