Democrats advance Virginia redistricting measure aimed at countering GOP gerrymanders

Virginia Democrats moved one step closer to redrawing the state’s congressional map after a key House committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment allowing for redistricting, in response to nationwide GOP gerrymanders.

The effort, if successful, could end up giving Democrats as many as four new congressional seats.

The House Privileges and Elections Committee voted 15-7 to advance the proposed redistricting amendment on the opening day of the 2026 General Assembly session. 

The amendment would temporarily allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia’s U.S. House districts outside the normal census cycle — a change Democrats say is necessary to counter aggressive Republican gerrymanders pushed by President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Following Wednesday’s committee vote, the amendment is expected to move quickly to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote where Democrats currently hold a 61-36 majority. If approved, it would then advance to the Senate for committee consideration and a full floor vote. 

Virginia constitutional amendments must pass two separate legislatures, and this would mark the second required legislative approval. If both chambers pass the amendment, it would then be sent to voters in a statewide referendum, likely in April. 

Only if voters approve the amendment could lawmakers legally enact the new congressional map. Democrats are expected to reveal a draft of the proposed map by the end of the month.

“Texas and North Carolina legislators themselves said their actions were in direct response to our President’s call for more House seats,” Marcia “Cia” Price, House committee chair, said during the meeting. “Federal actions impact our Commonwealth. Letting voters decide is the opposite of voter disenfranchisement.”

The committee vote comes amid growing signals from Democratic leaders that they intend to pursue a congressional map that would leave Republicans with just one of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House seats. The GOP currently holds five seats, while Democrats hold six.

“The maps will be 10-1 and I’m sticking with that,” Louise Lucas, Senate president pro tempore, said last week. “Anyone in the Congressional delegation who wants a seat needs to campaign for it and not expect a safe seat.”

Democrats argued the move is a defensive response to Trump’s push for GOP-led states to redraw congressional maps mid-decade in order to lock in Republican control of Congress before any votes are cast.

“We’re not here by choice. The President forcing other states into redistricting is diluting our vote,” Del. Rodney Willett, the amendment’s sponsor, said during committee testimony. “We are trying to preserve free and fair elections for Virginians. This gives Virginians a level playing field.”