US EditionWhy Virginia Democrats are calling a special General Assembly session before Election Day
Democrats aim to gain up to three House seats by redrawing maps early, responding to Republican efforts in other states, to potentially control the House in 2026.
- Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott called members to a special session in Richmond Monday to redraw U.S. House districts, aiming to influence the 2026 midterm elections.
- Amid early redistricting moves in Texas and North Carolina, Democrats cited President Donald Trump's call for Republican-led states to reshape key districts as prompting their response.
- Currently holding six of Virginia's 11 congressional seats, Democrats could gain two or three more, with Nicholas Goedert's models showing maps favoring eight or nine Democratic seats.
- Under Virginia's constitution, Republican leaders immediately denounced the session; `Today Democrats in our General Assembly are calling not to serve the people, but to serve themselves`, Sears said.
- If lawmakers approve the measure now, Virginia would join California as the second state where Democrats counter Republican redistricting, with plans for a second vote in the General Assembly's January 2026 legislative session.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Ideologies clash before General Assembly special session
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia General Assembly gaveled in for a special session on Monday, Oct. 27 where its slim Democratic majority is poised to consider redrawing Virginia's congressional districts -- not everyone is on board. As in California, Democrats are working to weaken President Trump's pressure on the Texas Legislature to grow its Republican delegation. Other than redistricting, which is under scrutiny by Republicans, Virginia …
First day of special session ends with one key piece missing: Text of the redistricting amendment
This story was updated to clarify the actions of the state Senate. The Virginia General Assembly kicked off a special session on Monday aimed at redrawing the commonwealth’s Congressional map through a constitutional amendment, but the bill’s text has not yet been made available by Democrats who are championing the effort. The special session comes on the heels of similar efforts in Texas, California and North Carolina and a handful of other st…
General Assembly gavels in for Democrat-led congressional redistricting
Virginia Democrats are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to redraw congressional maps to pick up seats. As the General Assembly gaveled in for a special session Monday, Virginia's Republican congressional lawmakers were critical of the effort.
Virginia Power Play: Democrat Speaker’s Push to Redraw Congressional Districts
Why is the Democrat speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates calling a special session of the Virginia General Assembly now, a week before Election Day? Speaker Don Scott and the Democrats are trying to begin a multiyear process to redistrict the commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts to create more Democrat-leaning districts for the 2026 congressional midterms before they potentially lose the House of Delegates in next week’s elections. >>…
Virginia Democrats plan to redraw state's congressional districts
A major political battle is unfolding in Virginia as Democrats in control of the General Assembly open a special session to redraw the state’s congressional districts—a move Republicans call a blatant power grab.
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