From today’s New York Times:
The next front in the nation’s pitched battle over mid-decade congressional redistricting is opening in Virginia, where Democrats are planning the first step toward redrawing congressional maps, a move that could give their party two or three more seats.
The surprise development, which is set to be announced by legislators on Thursday, would make Virginia the second state, after California, in which Democrats try to counter a wave of Republican moves demanded by President Trump to redistrict states to their advantage before the 2026 midterm elections. No other Democratic state has begun redistricting proceedings, while several Republican states have drawn new maps or are deliberating doing so.
Democrats now hold six of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats. Redistricting could deliver two or three additional seats for the party, depending on how aggressive cartographers choose to be in a redrawing effort.
“We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” said Scott Surovell, the majority leader of the Virginia Senate, who confirmed the plans.
The Virginia Democrats’ moves are the latest in a monthslong tango that has resulted in Texas and Missouri enacting new maps that add more Republican seats, California asking voters to approve a new map to add Democratic seats and North Carolina Republican lawmakers on Tuesday approving a new map expected to transfer one congressional seat to Republicans from Democrats.
Read the complete story here.