Spanberger Warns Virginia Dems Ultra-Blue Congressional Map Could Cause Logistical Nightmare

Last week, Virginia Democrats trudged ahead with their mid-decade redistricting gambit by appealing a circuit court judge’s ruling blocking their efforts to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Behind the scenes, Democratic Party leaders in Richmond are hoping that a higher court will rule in their favor and allow the state legislature to put a redistricting constitutional amendment before voters this spring. But even if that effort succeeds, they remain intensely divided over how to proceed with their California-style gerrymandering effort. Right now, Democrats are shopping around multiple maps, two of which would create a ten-to-one margin favoring Democrats and another that would create a nine-to-two margin, sources say.

About the Author

Audrey Fahlberg

Audrey Fahlberg was a politics reporter for National Review.

Last week, Virginia Democrats trudged ahead with their mid-decade redistricting gambit by appealing a circuit court judge’s ruling blocking their efforts to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Behind the scenes, Democratic Party leaders in Richmond are hoping that a higher court will rule in their favor and allow the state legislature to put a redistricting constitutional amendment before voters this spring. But even if that effort succeeds, they remain intensely divided over how to proceed with their California-style gerrymandering effort. Right now, Democrats are shopping around multiple maps, two of which would create a ten-to-one margin favoring Democrats and another that would create a nine-to-two margin, sources say.