Virginia Democrats Thursday mentioned they may search to redraw the blue-trending state’s congressional map to flip two or three Republican-held seats and counter President Trump’s push to carry Congress in subsequent 12 months’s essential midterm elections.
Lawmakers within the Outdated Dominion State would search to move a constitutional modification essential to open the door to redistricting forward of the 2026 elections and changing the present 6-5 break up to as a lot as a 9-2 Democratic edge within the state’s Home of Representatives delegation.
The push might assist Democrats even the enjoying area as Trump pushes pink state Republicans to seize as many Democratic seats as attainable forward of what’s forecast as a tough political 12 months for the GOP.
State Sen. Scott Surovell, the Democratic majority chief, confirmed the redistricting plans, which might require the approval of each homes within the state legislature.
Democrats maintain a 21-19 edge within the state Senate, which solely faces reelection in 2027. They maintain a 51-49 edge within the decrease chamber however are anticipated to considerably increase that edge within the Nov. 4 normal election.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks throughout a information convention as the federal government shutdown enters its third week, on the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/J. Scott Applewhite)
Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears by a wholesome margin in polls of subsequent month’s off-year race for Virginia governor. Spanberger had beforehand mentioned she was not planning to push the state to endure mid-decade redistricting.
Virginia has been trending to the left for years as Washington, D.C.’s deep-blue suburbs increase south and west into beforehand stable GOP turf, giving Democrats flexibility to squeeze extra seats statewide.
Trump and Republicans unleashed the unprecedented mid-decade map-making battle in hopes of retaining management of the Home of Representatives, which they maintain by a slender six-vote margin.
The president began by prodding Texas to redraw its maps to choose up an estimated 5 Democratic seats.Different pink states have jumped into the trouble, with Missouri pushing for a brand new map to flip one Democratic seat and North Carolina Republicans in search of to increase their benefit within the evenly break up swing state’s delegation from 10-4 to 11-3.
Democrats hope to counter by rejiggering district traces in California to choose up 5 GOP-held seats.
They’re additionally eyeing comparable strikes to increase their benefit in blue states together with Illinois and Maryland.
New York Democrats hope to discover a option to get across the state’s impartial redistricting committee to redraw maps of its 26 seats, now break up 19-7 of their favor. However any change might solely go into impact in 2028.
