VA Lawmakers Pass Redistricting Plan, Sending It To Voters

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia's Democrat-controlled Senate passed a constitutional amendment on Friday that paves the way for the redrawing of congressional district maps, a move that could give the party three or four more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to multiple reports. The approval was the final step before sending the amendment to voters.

The amendment cleared the Senate in a 21-18 vote along party lines, reports said.

While the proposed redistricting map has not been released, lawmakers say it will likely be available by the end of the month before appearing on the ballot this spring, The Associated Press reported. Incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger must approve the referendum after she's sworn in on Saturday.

“Because this is a Virginian-led process and we’re asking for their permission, voters will be able to see the maps prior to their vote,” Democratic Del. Cia Price told reporters on Wednesday.

If passed by voters, the measure will amend Virginia's Constitution to allow lawmakers to bypass the state's bipartisan redistricting committee and alter congressional lines if another state does the same thing outside a court order or the usual decennial redistricting cycle, according to an NBC News report.

Virginia Democrats currently control six of the state’s 11 U.S. House districts. One map could elect as many as 10 Democrats in a favorable election year for the party, a source familiar with the process told NBC News.

Virginia Republicans have criticized the amendment, saying it undermines voter-approved protections against gerrymandering and could lead to broader map manipulation, according to a KFBK News Radio report.

"You're going to redo the House of Congress. You're going to redo the House of Delegates, and you're gonna redo the state Senate," said Sen. Mark Peake, a Republican from Lynchburg.

As of this month, Republican and Democratic officials in about one-third of the states have considered revising their U.S. House districts since President Donald Trump began pushing for remapping as a means of boosting the chances of Republican candidates in this year’s midterm elections.

Trump had hoped that mid-decade redistricting could help House Republicans hold on to their slim majority in the face of political headwinds that typically lead to lost seats for the party in power during midterm elections. But Democrats in some states, like Virginia, are seeking to counter Trump with their own gerrymandering efforts.

The unusual mid-decade redistricting battle has so far resulted in nine more seats that Republicans believe they can win and six more seats that Democrats think they can win, putting the GOP up by three. However, redistricting is being litigated in several states, and there is no guarantee that the parties will win the seats they have redrawn.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.