Virginia’s new Democrat-controlled government could pursue a redistricting effort that could wipe out four of the five Republican congressional seats heading into the midterms.
Newly-minted Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is backing the effort “100%.”
Democrats are pushing a redistricting effort that could change Virginia’s Congressional representation from six Democrats and five Republicans to 10 Democrats and one Republican. House Republicans already have a slim majority in the 119th Congress, and Virginia’s redistricting effort, if successful, could give Democrats the edge to take the House come Election Day.
Democrats in the state house and senate have passed an amendment to the state constitution that, if signed by Spanberger, would lead to a referendum in April for constituents to vote on the amendment.
With the newly-proposed amendment, Democrats are attempting to upend a 2020 constitutional amendment that established a bipartisan redistricting commission. If the amendment succeeds, the map would instead be drawn by the Democrat-led legislature.
“Democrats want to be kings of Virginia by gerrymandering the state’s congressional districts and disenfranchising almost half of all Virginians,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., told The Daily Signal.
If the redistricting effort succeeds, Kiggans and Virginia Republican Reps. Rob Wittman, John McGuire, and Ben Cline could be in hot water. Under the 10-1 map, Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., would likely remain safe.
Spanberger was formerly against gerrymandering in 2019 when she served in Congress.
“I agree with Abigail Spanberger, who rightly said in 2019 that gerrymandering is detrimental to our democracy and weakens the individual voices that form our electorates, and that opposing it should be a bipartisan priority,” said Kiggans.
“I call on her to stand by those words and not give in to the radical left in her first days as governor,” Kiggans continued.
“The Democrats are trying to ram through a hyper partisan redistricting process that undermines the will of the people,” former Republican Virginia Rep. Bob Good told The Daily Signal.
“It’s unfortunate that Democrats are going to wield their newfound power in a hyper-partisan way. Virginia is about a 55-45 Democrat-Republican split in the vote, and the Democrats want to try to make it a 90% Democrat state by achieving a 10-1 advantage,” continued Good.
“Democrats are ignoring the Virginia constitution,” said Kiggans, referencing the 2020 constitutional amendment.
“Virginia voters overwhelmingly rejected partisan gerrymandering by amending our Constitution to create an independent redistricting commission,” Kiggans continued. “Constitutional amendments should not be taken lightly or temporarily brushed aside to grab power and disenfranchise voters based on political disagreement.”
“The Democrats are fighting to overturn a constitutional amendment approved by more than 65% of voters 5 years ago,” echoed Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, R-V.B., to the Daily Signal. “Their motivation is clear—to create gerrymandered districts to maximize their power and eliminate Republican seats in Congress.”
“This blatant power grab defies the will of the people and is disastrous for Virginia,” Tata concluded.
Governor Spanberger could not be reached to comment.
