Virginia Republicans blast redistricting amendment before special election

Ahead of Tuesday’s special election, Virginia Republicans criticized a proposed constitutional amendment that could soon cost their state congressional seats, calling the effort the most “unfair” among a series of redrawn maps across the country.

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., believes that’s a sentiment shared by voters.

“I was with a group of Virginia Watermen from across the state this morning and they [feeling] the same way. They’re saying, ‘No, we’re not going to let them turn us into a state that’s run by just one part of the state,'” Wittman said.

Virginia’s redistricting effort, which requires a statewide vote to take effect, follows similar shakeups in Texas, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Utah.

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But unlike many other states that already have a distinct party advantage of one kind or another, Virginia’s GOP has blasted what they see as a violent power swing that they say misrepresents the state’s purple voter base.

If successful, the new maps would expand the boundaries of traditionally Republican districts along Democratic strongholds, temporarily turning the current 6-5 congressional divide into a 10-1 advantage for Democrats. The state’s normal process, run by a nonpartisan redistricting commission, will be reinstated at the next U.S. census in 2030.

With up to four more seats, Democrats hope to regain control of the House of Representatives, where a slim majority favors Republicans, for now.

The GOP holds a 217-213 advantage in the chamber.

Democrats who support the idea argue that Virginia is key to balancing the Republican-led gerrymandering efforts that began in Texas, describing the push as purely retaliatory.

“Virginia’s redistricting referendum gives voters the power to respond to a president who says he has the ‘right’ to pick up more GOP seats in Congress before Americans vote in midterm elections [and] Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has supported efforts in other states to give those seats to her. he said in a post After increasing voting last month.

Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin argued that the state’s current makeup more accurately reflects Virginia’s population.

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Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Virginians for Fair Maps rally on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Bridgewater, Virginia. Virginia voters will decide whether to redraw Virginia Congressional districts in response to Texas redistricting. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“Today we have fair maps that represent Virginians, and what this constitutional amendment means is that we address the most unfair maps in America, so ‘no’ is the right vote,” Youngkin said.

The practice, better known as gerrymandering, has been banned in Virginia since a constitutional referendum in 2020, although the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is constitutional to politically favor one party through the design of the state’s district.

But the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state could temporarily amend its constitution to allow the new maps to be implemented.

R-Va. “‘Do you want to temporarily restore fairness in elections?'” Rep. Jen Kiggans said, referring to the wording of the referendum.

“The way this question is worded is ridiculous. The way it’s written is so wrong. But here we are. This is our chance to use our voice and our vote. And it’s very powerful. But the ball is in our court.”

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., argued that lifting this ban now, even if temporary in nature, would be a mistake.

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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA) attends a press conference with Republican leadership on Capitol Hill on September 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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“Virginians spoke in 2020; you know what they said? They overwhelmingly said no to gerrymandering. They said: ‘Let’s make a bipartisan decision for these districts.’ And by the way, these are also found to be the most bipartisan districts in the United States,” Wittman said.

In Virginia, polls open at 6:00 in the morning and close at 19:00 in the evening.