FAIRFAX, VA — Voters in Fairfax City decisively supported a statewide constitutional amendment on Tuesday, joining a wave of Northern Virginia localities that helped push the measure to a victory across the Commonwealth.
The special election asked Virginians to approve a temporary shift in redistricting power. The amendment allows the Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts for the remainder of the decade, a move prompted by a "redistricting arms race" in other states.
According to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections, the "Yes" campaign received 1,574,505 votes statewide, while 1,485,657 voters cast "No" ballots.
The narrow victory was fueled primarily by high turnout in Northern Virginia and the Richmond suburbs, which offset opposition in the state’s more rural southern and western districts.
Despite the polarizing nature of the amendment, the majority is sufficient to trigger the immediate adoption of the General Assembly's new congressional boundaries.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Fairfax City residents cast a total of 9,127 votes on the measure. The "Yes" campaign carried the city with 66.94 percent of the vote, significantly outperforming the statewide margin.
The approval of the amendment triggers the immediate implementation of a new congressional map previously passed by the General Assembly. Proponents say the new lines "restore fairness," while opponents have criticized the move as a partisan gerrymander that could shift the state’s delegation from a 6-5 split to a 10-1 Democratic advantage.
City election officials reported an unusually high turnout for a single-issue special election. All six precincts in the city voted in favor of the measure.
Fairfax City Results by Precinct
Total Citywide Results:
Precinct-by-Precinct Breakdown:
As a result of redistricting, Fairfax City will remain in the 11th Congressional District, but the district will be stretched out to the state's western border. The new 11th District will include Manassas, Manassas Park, and Front Royal.
On Aug. 4, incumbent U.S. Rep. James Walkenshaw (D) will face three opponents in the Democratic Party primary: Bree Fram, a transgender Space Force officer ousted by President Trump; State Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-Centreville); and attorney Amy Roma.
The winner of the primary will face Republican candidate Nathan Headrick in the Nov. 3 general election.
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