Virginia voters have approved a mid-decade redistricting plan that could allow Democrats to win up to 10 of the 11 U.S. House seats, according to multiple reports. The plan, which circumvents a bipartisan commission, now faces a legal challenge before the Virginia Supreme Court.
The redistricting plan, drawn by Virginia's Democratic-led General Assembly, was approved by voters in a referendum. Polls showed a narrow lead for the side in favor of redistricting, with 52% in favor and 47% opposed in one survey. The plan could shift the balance of power in the state's congressional delegation, where Democrats currently hold six of the 11 seats under districts imposed by the state Supreme Court in 2021.
The Virginia Supreme Court is reviewing the plan's legality, which could potentially nullify the referendum results. The court's decision will determine whether the new districts take effect for the November midterms.
The Virginia vote is part of a broader national redistricting war. Donald Trump instigated the nationwide redistricting war last year to preserve Republican control of Congress, according to multiple reports. The battle is continuing in Florida, where the Republican-led Legislature is to convene for a special session on April 28. Republicans believe they can win up to nine more House seats in newly redrawn districts in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Democrats think they can win up to five more seats in California and one more seat in Utah.
The exact impact of the Virginia redistricting on the number of Democratic seats in the November midterms remains uncertain, as does the outcome of the Florida special session and the overall effect of the national redistricting war on control of Congress.