Democrats in the Virginia legislature will reconvene next week to consider redrawing the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott announced Thursday.
The initiative has the full backing of Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who has been pushing blue states to redraw maps in response to red states’ redistricting efforts.
In a letter to lawmakers on Thursday, Speaker Scott notified them that they will need to return to Richmond for a special session beginning Monday afternoon. During this session, Democrats are expected to introduce a bill that would allow them to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps. The House of Delegates is the lower chamber of Virginia’s bicameral General Assembly.
Scott’s decision to call the special session was first reported by Virginia Scope.
If Democrats move forward with the plan, they would likely target two or three congressional seats currently held by Republicans. For instance, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who narrowly won re-election last year, could see her district redrawn to include the more Democratic parts of Norfolk and its surrounding suburbs.
Similarly, Congressman John McGuire, who currently represents Charlottesville and the more rural southern part of Virginia, might have his district reshaped to include more of Richmond. Congressman Rob Wittman may also see his district shift leftward if Democrats redraw it to incorporate parts of Richmond or Fredericksburg.
Prior to Speaker Scott’s special session announcement, the majority leader of the state Senate, Scott Surovell, confirmed to the New York Times that the legislature would be returning to “address” the redistricting issue.
The process Democrats are pursuing in Virginia mirrors similar efforts in other states, such as California. Over the summer, Governor Gavin Newsom asked California’s legislature to disempower the state’s non-partisan redistricting commission, enabling lawmakers to set up a statewide ballot initiative scheduled for this November. If approved by voters — which polling indicates is likely — Democrats there would regain control over redistricting and could gain five congressional seats.
Virginia’s redistricting requirements are slightly different but comparable. Two sessions of the state legislature must independently approve legislation to suspend the state’s redistricting commission. Speaker Scott, Senator Surovell, and other Democratic leaders would need to pass one bill in the upcoming special session, and then another after the new legislative session begins in January.
While the state Senate’s next election isn’t until 2027, Virginians will vote for new members of the House of Delegates next month. Democrats are expected to pick up seats in the chamber and flip the governor’s mansion from red to blue.
After the legislature approves suspending the redistricting commission in two separate sessions, voters must approve the move via a statewide ballot initiative.
National Democrats have been actively seeking blue states where they can redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has indicated he may collaborate with legislators to eliminate his state’s lone Republican district.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed readiness to “go to war” with the GOP over redistricting, though such efforts there won’t be possible until at least 2027. Colorado and New Jersey are other states Democrats believe could redraw maps either by next year or in time for the 2028 elections.
On Thursday, Congressman Jeffries confirmed his support for Illinois Democrats’ efforts to redraw their maps. However, redistricting in Illinois has faced concerns among Black lawmakers seeking to protect majority-minority districts. Jeffries assured reporters that those districts would be safeguarded.
Earlier this week, Punchbowl News reported that Jeffries is slated to headline a fundraiser in Ohio, where Republicans may redraw their congressional maps. He told reporters on Thursday that he supports ballot initiatives in Missouri and Ohio aimed at blocking gerrymandered maps from being used in the 2026 elections.
As redistricting battles continue to unfold across the country, Democrats are focused on leveraging legal and legislative avenues to create more favorable electoral districts ahead of upcoming midterms.
https://www.nysun.com/article/virginia-democrats-call-legislature-into-special-session-to-redraw-congressional-maps
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