Virginians have voted to back a new electoral map that could hand Democrats four more seats in the US House of Representatives, turning Republicans redistricting push into a potential liability for them in upcoming midterm elections.
The state voted in a referendum to let officials redraw the congressional map before the next scheduled nationwide redistricting in 2030, giving Democrats a strong advantage in 10 of the state's 11 House districts, up from their previous 6-5 edge.
Virginia voters approved the new congressional map that sharply reshapes the state’s political landscape, according to The Associated Press.
The result also comes as part of a broader national redistricting contest that has intensified ahead of the next election cycle.
The outcome in Virginia effectively balances the wider redistricting struggle between the two major parties. Republicans had previously gained ground after redraws in states such as Texas, where new district lines were introduced last year.
The Virginia vote, held in a rare off-cycle election, drew heavy campaign spending and high early turnout, with nearly 1.4 million ballots cast before Election Day.
Under US practice, congressional maps are typically redrawn once a decade following the census. But in recent years, there has been an unusual escalation, with both parties engaging in mid-decade redistricting to gain electoral advantage.
Attention is now shifting to other states. Florida Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have indicated plans for further redraws, while potential Supreme Court decisions on the Voting Rights Act could open the door for additional map changes in several Republican-led states ahead of November.
