Virginia approves redistricting amendment
Virginia voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment on redistricting, according to results from the April 21 special election posted by the Virginia Department of Elections.
As of 10 p.m. 51.28 percent of Virginians voted Yes, and 48.72 percent voted No. In Fairfax County, 69.49 percent of voters supported the amendment.
Passage of the ballot measure means Virginia can gain up to four seats in the House of Representatives in the November midterms.
In recent weeks, Virginians have been bombarded with mailers from both supporters and opponents of the ballot measure, underscoring the importance of which party controls the U.S. House.
Under the redistricting plan, Democrats could have the edge in 10 of Virginia’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the state’s congressional delegation consists of six Democrats and five Republicans.
Under a congressional district map redrawn by Democrats, Fairfax County would be represented by five House members, rather than three under the current map.
A long list of Democrats has already announced their intention to run for the new districts. Primaries are scheduled for Aug. 4.
Virginia Republicans plan to block the measure in court.
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The referendum asked voters whether the state’s constitution should be temporarily amended to allow redistricting until the 2030 census. At that point, Virginia’s existing bipartisan redistricting commission would take over.
The amendment got strong support in Northern Virginia, with 80.13 percent of voters in Arlington, 78.89 in Alexandria City, 80.71 percent in Falls Church City, 60.65 percent in Loudoun County, and 62.82 percent in Prince William County voting for it.
While rural areas of Virginia tended to oppose the measure, it drew majorities in Richmond, the Tidewater area, and the cities of Charlottesville, Danville, Fredericksburg, Lexington, Petersburg, Roanoke, Williamsburg, and Winchester.
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The push to upend Virginia’s congressional map was sparked by President Trump’s effort to persuade Texas Republicans to create more GOP seats in Congress. North Carolina, Ohio, and Missouri Republicans followed suit, while California Democrats mounted a counter effort.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger released the following statement: “Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress. Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input – and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.”
The National Democratic Committee states: “The success of Virginia’s referendum will help us offset the Trump-ordered gerrymandering of Republican-led states, giving us a real shot at a Democratic House majority that will stop Trump’s agenda in its tracks.”