Virginia Democrats are defying a court order and dismantling voter-approved redistricting reforms in a power grab so blatant that even The Washington Post is calling them out for betraying democracy.
Story Snapshot
- Virginia Democrats push redistricting scheme to secure 10-1 House advantage despite Biden winning state by only six points
- Washington Post editorial slams plan as “shameless power grab” that disenfranchises millions of Republican voters
- Democrats ignore court order delaying redistricting until 2027, betting on favorable State Supreme Court ruling
- April 21 referendum will let voters decide whether to reverse 2020 constitutional amendment establishing bipartisan commission
Democrats Abandon Voter-Approved Redistricting Reforms
Virginia Democrats are working to dismantle redistricting reforms that voters overwhelmingly approved just six years ago. In 2020, two-thirds of Virginians supported a constitutional amendment shifting redistricting authority from the legislature to a bipartisan commission designed to prevent partisan gerrymandering. Democrats now champion legislation placing an April 21 referendum before voters to reverse this reform and restore legislative control over congressional maps. This reversal comes as Democrats control the state legislature and seek to lock in electoral advantages ahead of the critical 2026 midterms.
Proposed Maps Target Republican Representation
The proposed redistricting plan aims to deliver Democrats a 10-1 advantage in Virginia’s 11 congressional districts, capturing 91% of House seats in a state where Biden won by just six percentage points in 2020. This aggressive gerrymandering would systematically dilute Republican voting strength across rural and suburban areas, effectively disenfranchising millions of conservative voters. Democrats are pressing forward despite a court order blocking redistricting changes until 2027, gambling that the State Supreme Court will rule in their favor and allow the maps to proceed before the midterm elections.
Washington Post Condemns Democratic Hypocrisy
The Washington Post editorial board delivered a scathing rebuke of Virginia Democrats’ redistricting scheme, calling it a “shameless power grab” and noting that the “self-styled democracy party isn’t behaving democratically.” This criticism carries exceptional weight given the Post’s traditional alignment with Democratic positions. The editorial urged Virginia voters to reject the April referendum and preserve the bipartisan commission. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares amplified the Post’s criticism, stating that even the liberal outlet “understands the Democrat’s unconstitutional power grab is wrong.”
Spanberger’s Reversal Highlights Political Opportunism
Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s position on redistricting reveals the partisan calculations driving this scheme. In 2020, Spanberger publicly declared gerrymandering “detrimental to democracy” and supported the bipartisan commission. Now, as an incumbent benefiting from the proposed maps, she backs the referendum to return redistricting control to the Democrat-controlled legislature. This reversal exemplifies what critics describe as brass-knuckled hypocrisy from politicians who champion democracy only when it serves their electoral interests. Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the referendum bill to let voters decide, framing it as necessary to counter extreme measures by other states.
Implications for Electoral Integrity and Conservative Values
This redistricting battle represents a direct assault on fair representation and the will of Virginia voters who demanded nonpartisan map-drawing processes. The scheme threatens to establish a precedent for state-level gerrymandering ahead of the 2030 census, undermining electoral integrity nationwide. For conservatives committed to constitutional governance and limited government, Democrats’ willingness to ignore court orders and overturn voter-approved reforms demonstrates contempt for the rule of law. The April 21 referendum gives Virginians an opportunity to reject this power grab and defend the principle that electoral maps should reflect voters’ voices rather than politicians’ ambitions.
