Unconstitutional Scheme: 6-5 Becomes 10-1 Overnight

Virginia Democrats just set the stage for a brazen power grab that could flip the state’s congressional delegation from 6D-5R to 10D-1R through a rushed April referendum, suspending the voter-approved bipartisan redistricting commission established just six years ago.

Story Snapshot

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed legislation enabling an April 21, 2026 referendum on mid-decade redistricting that targets four GOP House seats
The Democratic map bypasses Virginia’s independent redistricting commission created by voters in 2020 to prevent partisan gerrymandering
A circuit court already ruled the effort unconstitutional, but Democrats appealed to the state Supreme Court to keep their scheme alive
Rural southwestern Virginia communities would lose congressional representation while northern Virginia gains overwhelming control

Democrats Dismantle Voter-Approved Redistricting Reform

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed enabling legislation February 6, 2026, setting an April 21 referendum date for a constitutional amendment that would temporarily suspend Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting commission. Democrats unveiled their proposed congressional map one day earlier, dramatically reshaping the state’s 11 districts to favor their party through 2030. The maneuver directly contradicts the will of Virginia voters who approved the independent commission through constitutional amendments in 2020 specifically to remove partisan politics from the mapmaking process. This represents exactly the kind of political manipulation voters sought to eliminate.

Aggressive Timeline Raises Constitutional Concerns

The redistricting push faces serious legal obstacles after Tazewell County Circuit Court ruled the effort unconstitutional in January 2026. Democrats immediately appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court following their October 2025 lawsuit loss. Democratic leadership bundled the redistricting question with three other popular amendments addressing marriage equality, reproductive rights, and voting restoration, clearly designed to boost turnout for their partisan map. The rushed April timeline leaves little opportunity for voters to understand they are dismantling a reform they approved just years ago. Republicans filed their initial challenge recognizing this violated both the state constitution and the principle of non-partisan redistricting.

Rural Communities Lose Voice to Northern Virginia

The proposed map decimates representation for rural southwestern Virginia while concentrating power in the state’s increasingly liberal northern regions. Republican Representatives Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith face districts redrawn to eliminate their electoral viability, with Griffith calling the plan “outrageously partisan” for shifting power to Northern Virginia at rural communities’ expense. The 10D-1R configuration projects Democrats could flip up to four currently Republican-held seats based on historical voting data. Governor Spanberger justified the power grab as “temporary and responsive” to Republican redistricting in other states, though Virginia Republicans followed the voter-mandated bipartisan process. This rationale exposes the hypocrisy—Democrats claim to oppose gerrymandering while orchestrating one of 2026’s most aggressive partisan remaps.

National Implications for 2026 Midterms

Virginia Democrats framed their scheme as retaliation for Republican redistricting urged by President Trump in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Missouri, creating a dangerous escalation of mid-decade map wars. The $5 million implementation cost flows through budget bill HB 29, which becomes law automatically if Spanberger refuses to sign within 30 days, giving her political cover. If Virginia voters approve this referendum, the precedent could trigger similar mid-decade power grabs nationwide, undermining the decennial census-based redistricting framework that has governed American elections. The effort fundamentally attacks the principle of representative government by allowing partisan majorities to redraw maps whenever politically convenient. Spanberger stated she would not campaign for the referendum due to timeline constraints, yet her signature enabled the entire process.