Jeffries Backs Virginia Mid‑Decade Map Referendum, Vows Democrats Will 'Finish' GOP Gerrymandering Fight
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned in Richmond, Virginia, for a statewide referendum that would temporarily let lawmakers redraw the state’s U.S. House districts, a move Democrats hope could shift the delegation from the current 6–5 edge to as many as 10–1 and potentially decide control of the House after November. Speaking at First Baptist Church of South Richmond on April 13, Jeffries framed the vote as a response to mid‑decade gerrymanders Republicans pushed through in states like Texas, Missouri and North Carolina at President Trump’s urging, declaring that 'Republicans may have started this gerrymandering battle' but Democrats intend to 'finish it.' He argued Democrats are using temporary, voter‑approved measures — including this referendum and a California proposition — to create more competitive maps, and insisted the party still backs a national law banning mid‑decade partisan gerrymandering outside the once‑a‑decade process. Jeffries noted that House Democrats have twice passed such a bill only to see it stall in the Senate and pledged to revive it after the midterms so 'no one like Donald Trump' can trigger another nationwide redistricting fight mid‑decade. A Washington Post/Schar School poll cited in the piece shows the Virginia measure leading narrowly among likely voters, underscoring how close the outcome — and its implications for the next Congress — could be.
📊 Relevant Data
In the 2020 Virginia presidential election, 89% of Black voters supported Joe Biden (Democrat), compared to 45% of White voters, 61% of Latino voters, 60% of Asian voters, and 50% of voters from other racial groups.
Virginia Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted — The New York Times
From 2010 to 2020, Virginia's White population percentage decreased from 68.6% to 60.3%, while the Hispanic population increased from 7.9% to 9.8%, the Asian population from 5.5% to 6.9%, and the Black population slightly decreased from 19.4% to 18.8%, with overall population growth of 7.9%.
Demographics of Virginia — Wikipedia
Virginia's foreign-born population is 1,193,581, representing 13.5% of the total population, with 40.9% of immigrants arriving since 2010; top countries of origin include El Salvador (9.9%), India (8.3%), Mexico (4.3%), Philippines (4.5%), China (4.5%), Korea (4.6%), and Vietnam (4.0%).
State Immigration Data Profiles: Virginia - Demographics & Social — Migration Policy Institute
In recent years, Virginia's population growth has been driven more by international immigration and domestic migration than by birth rates, contributing to increased diversity.
Demographics: Trends, Projections, & Potential Impacts — Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
📌 Key Facts
- Virginia voters will decide next Tuesday on a referendum allowing temporary mid‑decade redrawing of the state’s U.S. House districts.
- Democrats hope the change could move Virginia’s congressional map from a 6–5 Democratic advantage to potentially 10–1, netting up to four seats.
- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned for the measure in Richmond, calling it a 'responsive' answer to GOP‑driven mid‑decade maps in states like Texas and vowing Democrats will 'finish' the gerrymandering fight.
- Jeffries said House Democrats have twice passed a bill to ban mid‑decade partisan gerrymandering but Republicans blocked it in the Senate; he promised to revisit the effort after the midterms.
- A Washington Post/Schar School poll found 52% of likely Virginia voters back the redistricting measure and 47% oppose it, indicating a close contest.
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