Virginia Democrats Break from Norms and Make Moves to Redistrict Congress Seats

The final week of October in Richmond saw a partisan struggle from Virginia Democrats to begin the process for an amendment before Virginia's 2025 Election. The process of changing the Virginia Constitution requires state lawmakers to pass resolutions between intervening elections. This proposed amendment would allow redistricting amid a national battle before the United States midterm elections in 2026. The response from Virginia Democrats comes on the heel of Trump-backed plan from Republicans in Texas redistricting Congressional maps with the intent of giving Republicans the advantage to take 5 Congressional seats.

Other states states with Republicans majorities have seen similar redistricting plans in North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri. States with Democratic majorities have taken counter measures in states like California and Illinois.

Last Monday, Republican Congresswoman Jennifer Kiggans exclaimed, "We represent majority making seats. I certainly represent the majority making seat, and they want the United States House back. We're not going to give it to them." Kiggans was standing with the other 4 Republican Congressman that Represent Virginia. Out of Virginia's 11 Congress members, 5 of them are Republicans.

If the amendment is accepted by voters next year, Congresswoman Kiggans could have her Congressional district redrawn to favor her potential Democratic challenger. Kiggans represents Virginia's Second Congressional District in the Hampton Roads area where she is expecting to face a strong challenge next November, altering her map would be similar to the fate of those Democratic Congress members in Texas.

As Democrats wrap up their work on Halloween, the federal Government shutdown is 31 days in, with Republicans not willing to negotiate a solution while they hold onto their majority by a few seats. Back in August, President Donald Trump said that Republicans were entitled to seats that were redrawn to favor Republicans.

Delgate Cia Price addressed the media saying, "We are at an unprecedented time, so we are at an unprecedented session. To argue that Virginians are not impacted by what other states are doing is just not an understanding of civics and how the federal government works. So this is ultimately what we would want to send back to the voters for them to have another say now that the country has changed so much since 2020.

Republicans outside of Virginia are willing to use their majority to benefit their party by using the political process. Democrats in Virginia, rather than complain that the rules are unfair and go against the spirit of the law, are using the process respond with a taste of their own medicine.

Virginia State Senator Mamie Locke response after passage said, "Clearly, if the shoe was on the other foot, if they were on the majority, they would be doing the exact same thing that Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, and all of these other states are doing. We would be on the middle of a redistricting fight here in Virginia if they were in charge."

Virginia Republicans can claim that Democrats are being unfair and challenge through a lawsuit but ultimately Virginia voters can make the decision to pass when the Amendment is on the ballot next year. Right now, Republicans have found themselves outmaneuvered with Democrats moving at shocking speeds.

Senator Mark Peake believes that this is a complete fiasco and a boondoggle. "This is not going to hold up."