Virginia voters approve Democrats' redistricting plan, giving the party a midterm election boost

BREAKING NEWSApr. 22, 2026, 12:44 AM UTC2026 Election2026 ElectionVirginia voters approve Democrats' redistricting plan, giving the party a midterm election boostNBC News projects Democrats will be able to enact a new proposed map designed to net them up to four seats, as they push for control of the narrowly divided House.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleKornacki Cam: Watch Steve analyze Virginia redistricting election resultsGet more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Jane C. TimmVirginia voters on Tuesday approved a Democratic redistricting plan that could allow the party to pick up as many as four new seats in the midterm elections, NBC News projects. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The special election is a major victory for Democrats as they seek to gain control of the narrowly divided House this fall. Democrats have now won statewide votes in California and Virginia to redraw congressional maps as part of a mid-decade redistricting arms race that began last year when President Donald Trump urged GOP-led states to alter their district lines. Republicans had hoped they could insulate their three-seat House majority, but the result of the redistricting back-and-forth may end up being close to a wash.The constitutional amendment that was on the Virginia ballot Tuesday sought to authorize the Democratic-controlled Legislature to bypass the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission and implement a new congressional map through the end of the decade.Democrats’ proposed map is designed to leave just one solidly Republican district out of 11 in the state. Currently, Virginia is represented by six Democrats and five Republicans in the House. After Republicans enacted new maps last year in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina, Virginia offered a rare, seat-rich prize for Democrats — who control the redistricting process in fewer states — as they sought...