Virginia voters went to the polls yesterday to decide on a statewide redistricting constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly to temporarily redraw congressional maps for the 2026 midterm elections in response to mid-decade redistricting in other states like Texas and California. The measure passed with 51.5% of “Yes” votes. Supporters held a significant funding advantage: $66 million was raised by support campaigns compared to $22 million by the opposition.
Proponents, including Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) and former President Barack Obama, argued the move “levels the playing field”, while opponents characterized it as partisan gerrymandering, arguing Virginia should not "import" partisan map manipulation in response to other states. Although the amendment passed, the victory remains precarious: the Virginia Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the amendment's validity following the election, specifically regarding whether the House Speaker had the authority to convene the session that introduced the measure.
