Fairfax City Voters Overwhelmingly Approve VA Redistricting Amendment

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 narrow 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 the Virginia Department of Elections, the "Yes" campaign received 1,648,322 votes statewide, while 1,552,408 voters cast "No" ballots.

The narrow victory was fueled primarily by high turnout in Northern Virginia and the Richmond suburbs, which offset strong opposition in the state’s more rural southern and western districts.

Related: VA Redistricting Measure Approved By Voters: AP

Despite the polarizing nature of the amendment, the slim 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 9,842 votes on the measure. The "Yes" campaign carried the city with 72.1 perecent of the vote, significantly outperforming the statewide margin of 51.5 percent.

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 a 44.8 percent turnout, an unusually high figure 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:

• Yes: 7,096 (72.1%)
• No: 2,746 (27.9%)
• Total Votes Cast: 9,842

Precinct-by-Precinct Breakdown:

• Precinct 1 (City Hall):
  • Yes: 1,245
  • No: 482
• Precinct 2 (Lions Run):
  • Yes: 1,082
  • No: 418
• Precinct 3 (Daniels Run):
  • Yes: 1,194
  • No: 430
• Precinct 4 (Main Street):
  • Yes: 956
  • No: 392
• Precinct 5 (Fairfax High):
  • Yes: 1,312
  • No: 504
• Precinct 6 (Point Academy):
  • Yes: 1,307
  • No: 520

Results remain unofficial until certified by the State Board of Elections.

What's Next?

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.