Virginia Holds High-Stakes Vote on Mid-Decade Redistricting
The referendum would allow the Democratic-controlled Assembly to redraw maps that could net the party 10 of 11 House seats, amid a $100 million campaign fueled largely by dark money groups.
Apr 21st 2026 · United States
Virginia voters are deciding Tuesday whether to approve a referendum to redraw the state's congressional districts, a measure that would favor Democrats by a 10-1 margin in all but one of Virginia's 11 House seats. The referendum seeks to amend the state constitution to allow mid-decade redistricting using maps drawn by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, which would break up the northern part of the state, including the Democratic-trending D.C. suburbs, into districts extending into more conservative southern and western regions. Polls are open until 7 p.m. ET, and early voting has been robust with more than 1.35 million people having voted as of Monday. The measure is part of a broader national scramble over redistricting, with Democrats seeking to counter President Trump's efforts to get states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina to redraw their maps in Republicans' favor. Virginia's push was buoyed by the party's sweeping statewide victories last November, when Governor Abigail Spanberger won by 15 points and Democrats took control of both chambers. However, a recent Washington Post/George Mason University poll showed the yes vote leading by only five points, and some Democrats including Brian Cannon of Fair Vote Virginia oppose the referendum, arguing the party can win fairly under current maps. Nearly $100 million has been poured into the race, with 95 percent of that coming from dark money groups. Virginians for Fair Elections has donated $64 million to support the referendum, while the anti-redistricting group Virginians for Fair Maps has spent nearly $20 million. Former Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, has framed the vote as a "national fight" with ads featuring Barack Obama urging a yes vote. However, experts note that despite the nationwide redistricting scramble, the overall House map has not changed significantly, and if Virginia Democrats succeed, they could actually come out ahead nationally on redistricting.