Story perspectives

Virginia Pushes Constitutional Amendment to Combat Gerrymandering

11/2/2025

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Virginia Lawmakers Redistrict

Virginia lawmakers have advanced a plan to return map-drawing authority to the state legislature via a constitutional amendment.
The amendment seeks to counteract partisan gerrymandering in Republican-led states ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The proposal requires two legislative votes and a public referendum.
The first test occurs in the upcoming November 4 election.
The timeline remains tight ahead of the June 2026 primaries.

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Supreme Court Threatens Gerrymandering

If the Supreme Court strikes down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, gerrymandering could rise.
Section 2 currently limits partisan gerrymandering by requiring majority-minority districts.
Without Section 2, states could draw maps heavily favoring one party, such as a 38-0 Republican map in Texas or a 52-0 Democratic map in California.
Democrats are considering constitutional amendments in California and Virginia to counter Republican advantages, yielding less representative maps.

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Virginia Lawmakers Redistrict

Virginia lawmakers have advanced a plan to return map-drawing authority to the state legislature via a constitutional amendment.
The amendment seeks to counteract partisan gerrymandering in Republican-led states ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The proposal requires two legislative votes and a public referendum.
The first test occurs in the upcoming November 4 election.
The timeline remains tight ahead of the June 2026 primaries.

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