Virginia Redistricting and Election Law

Former President Barack Obama and Gov. Abigail Spanberger have both publicly endorsed an April 21 Virginia constitutional amendment that would temporarily suspend the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission and authorize a Democratic-drawn mid‑decade U.S. House map, framing it as a time-limited response to GOP mid‑cycle gerrymanders and saying the commission would return after the 2030 census. Republicans call the measure an illegal gerrymander and lawsuits are pending even as voting proceeds, with backers arguing the change could shift Virginia’s delegation (currently 6D–5R) to as many as 10 Democrats and 1 Republican or otherwise flip multiple seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.