'Unprecedented times:' Virginia Democrats defend redistricting referendum as early voting begins
As early voting began Friday for Virginia’s closely watched redistricting referendum, Democratic leaders pushed back against claims that the proposal would open the door to future partisan map-drawing, arguing instead that the measure represents a temporary defensive response to what they describe as a national Republican redistricting effort encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on a Zoom call Friday, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, and Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, emphasized the constitutional amendment before voters would grant the General Assembly limited authority to redraw Virginia’s 11 congressional districts, and only if Republican-led states move ahead with mid-decade redistricting absent a court order.
The referendum, which voters will decide April 21, comes after the Supreme Court of Virginia this week cleared the way for the vote to proceed by lifting a lower-court injunction that had temporarily halted preparations for the election.
Democrats say the amendment would not permanently alter Virginia’s redistricting system, noting that the state’s existing constitutional provisions requiring a nonpartisan process would remain in place for the next cycle in 2031.
https://virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/unprecedented-times-virginia-democrats-defend-redistricting-referendum-as-early-voting-begins/