Virginia voters approve new congressional maps in blow to Trump | Virginia
Voters in Virginia on Tuesday approved new congressional maps aimed at boosting Democrats’ chances of taking back the House of Representatives, the latest blow to Donald Trump’s mid-decade effort to use redistricting to maintain control of Congress.
The redistricting battle began last year, in part, after Trump pressured Texas’ Republican-controlled legislature to redraw the state’s congressional maps in an effort to unseat five House Democratic lawmakers in November’s midterm elections.
Voters in California retaliated by approving new maps that could flip five Republican-held seats, and in Virginia, newly elected Democratic governor Abigail Spanberger backed an effort to redraw her state’s maps after taking office in January. Tuesday’s referendum could help Democrats win four more seats in the House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections.
According to the new maps, Democrats are now expected to win in 10 of Virginia’s 11 districts. In the current delegation, Democrats hold six seats and Republicans hold five.
The referendum, which amended the state constitution to repeal a nonpartisan redistricting process that voters authorized six years ago through the 2030 census, must be approved a second time by the state legislature.
It’s also the subject of an ongoing challenge before the state supreme court; The court may still make a decision to invalidate the results.
Polls showed a close race in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s vote; There were signs that right-leaning voters in rural Virginia were angered by the new maps, which would see many of them represented by lawmakers living in the state’s northern suburbs outside Washington, D.C.
Polls also showed voters were divided on Spanberger’s performance as governor; Republicans accused him of lying about his moderate credentials on the campaign trail and then quickly turning left as governor, including supporting the referendum.
The race has seen heavy spending by Democratic-affiliated groups and other groups, which funneled more than $64 million to the main committee supporting the referendum. Groups opposing redistricting brought in nearly $30 million.
While Barack Obama has recorded television ads in favor of a yes vote, opponents have aired their own ads focusing on his past comments criticizing gerrymandering. Republican Glenn Youngkin, who served as governor before Spanberger, campaigned heavily for a no vote.
Obama celebrated the result Tuesday evening.
“Congratulations, Virginia!” former US president sent on social media. “Republicans are trying to turn the midterm elections to their advantage, but they haven’t done it yet. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to fight and defend our democracy.”
The success of the referendum could embolden Florida’s Republican-controlled state legislature, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has called into special session starting next month to consider changes to the congressional map. The GOP could pick up three more seats depending on how the legislature draws the lines.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday’s result should be a wake-up call for DeSantis.
“If Florida Republicans continue to pursue this illegal plan, they will only create more primary opportunities for Democrats,” he wrote in a statement. “We are ready to beat them all and win.”
In addition to Virginia, Missouri and North Carolina also redrew their congressional maps to potentially field a Democratic representative each. Democrats are also expected to pick up seats in Utah, thanks to a court ruling requiring the state to draw new boundaries.
