Virginia is set to hold a referendum on a Democrat-favored redistricting plan after the state’s upper chamber passed an amendment on Friday that clears the way.
Virginia marks the last Democratic maneuver before the midterm elections in the nationwide gerrymandering arms race, which started in August when Texas revealed plans for a new congressional map to strip Democrats of five seats. After a special session in October 2025 passed the amendment, the House passed it in a required special session earlier this week in a 62-33 vote. The measure passed through the state senate on Friday, setting up a voter referendum that would allow Democrats to draw a new congressional map earlier than usual.
The amendment is expected to be approved in the referendum. The reception of the development was predictably split along partisan lines.
“Because you hate the man that’s in the White House, and that’s really the only thing that’s behind this … you want to blunt his power, then [Democrats are] going to politically gerrymander and take away the rights of the people,” Republican state Sen. Mark Peake said.
Democratic Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell argued it was necessary, decrying President Donald Trump as a dictator trying to seize total control.
“They didn’t imagine that we’re going to have a hyper-partisan, fascist ideologue telling state legislatures around the country to basically … redesign their districts to maximize his own personal political power,” he said, referring to the president.
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The current Virginia congressional map is nearly evenly split, with Democrats holding six congressional seats and Republicans holding five. Democratic plans would eviscerate the Republican presence in the state, with House Speaker Don Scott and state Senate President pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas saying they would support a map that gives Democrats 10 seats and Republicans just one.
Republican states have pushed through major redistricting efforts in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina at Trump’s urging. California has been the most prominent Democratic state to push the same measures.
