Gov. Bob McDonnell approved a new congressional map that aims to keep Virginia Republicans’ 8-3 advantage in Washington for the next 10 years.
His office confirmed to The Washington Examiner that he signed the bill Wednesday, which passed the House and Senate last week on partisan lines.
“After reviewing the legislation, and consulting with the Attorney General’s office, the governor has signed the bill,” spokeswoman Taylor Thornley said.
The map, pushed by Republicans, largely strengthens the districts for Virginia’s 11 incumbents. Democrats said the new map suppresses the minority vote by packing the black population into a single district represented by Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.
A court decided Tuesday not to block a lawsuit that challenged whether the legislature had the right to pass a map in 2012. According to Virginia’s constitution, the General Assembly should have wrapped up the once-in-a-decade process by the end of 2011.
