Virginia’s Controversial Redistricting Efforts

There’s a lot of noise surrounding the Virginia Democratic Party’s push for a redistricting plan that aims to change how congressional districts are drawn. Oddly enough, they don’t want the proposed map included on the ballot for voters to see. It’s, well, curious.

Many see this mid-decade redistricting as a calculated move—somewhat of a sneaky gerrymander—that effectively eliminates nearly all of the Republican-leaning congressional districts, leaving just one. They argue it’s all in the name of “democracy,” which feels a bit disingenuous to those paying attention.

This shift could dramatically change Virginia’s representation, almost making it as blue as Massachusetts. It’s estimated that this move would disenfranchise a significant portion of voters; after all, in 2024, Virginia swung narrowly for Vice President Kamala Harris with a 51.8% to 46.6% lead. The proposed new districts stretch from urban blue areas to the rural red ones, effectively allowing federal representatives in Arlington and Fairfax to determine who speaks for farmers and small business owners in far-flung regions.

Ads are flooding the airwaves, depicting this redistricting as a noble effort to save “free and fair elections.” One such ad features former President Barack Obama, echoing his earlier promises with a rather empty assurance: “If you like your district, you can keep it,” hinting at a return to normal redistricting practices by 2030.

Grassroots materials, however, paint a different picture. Yard signs rallying support urge voters to “fight back” against the so-called MAGA agenda, making the intentions behind the campaign clearer to some.

It’s become evident to observers that this gerrymandering—dubbed “Virgilimandering” by critics—is not about fairness at all. Instead, it appears aimed at consolidating power for Democrats, particularly to undermine former President Donald Trump.

What can Trump and his supporters do in response? They can rally Virginians to resist this power grab—but there’s also the talk of a more strategic approach to redistricting. Going back in history, Virginia and Maryland ceded land to create a new capital in 1790. This land was returned to Virginia in 1847, a move many believe was primarily motivated by the desire to protect slavery at that time.

The discussion around this history re-emerged following the Civil War, with various opinions on whether the District’s lands should be returned to those states. President Trump has even gone so far as to issue an executive order challenging the constitutionality of laws tied to slavery, which could potentially pave the way for the Supreme Court to revisit the status of Arlington County and Alexandria.

This executive order may stand up better in court than some of President Biden’s policies, such as those regarding student loans or eviction moratoriums. For many in Virginia, especially in areas with a high concentration of federal employees, the tie to Washington, D.C., could feel quite significant.

Some are dubbing this moment a “special” one. Inadvertently, some Democratic leaders are framing their gerrymandering efforts as “legal” measures required to adapt to the current political climate. If they succeed, there’s speculation about how Trump might retaliate in Virginia; it could protect the voting power of many red-leaning residents whose votes might otherwise be diminished by liberal influences near D.C.