With Virginia vote, Democrats gain edge over Trump's national GOP redistricting push

Elections With Virginia vote, Democrats gain edge over Trump's national GOP redistricting push April 22, 20265:00 AM ET Larry Kaplow An election worker tears off "I Voted" stickers during the Virginia redistricting referendum at Fairfax Government Center, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption toggle caption Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP As time runs out before the midterm elections, Virginia took a step on Tuesday to counter and possibly surpass President Trump's national effort to redraw congressional voting maps in favor of the GOP. Loading... Voters narrowly approved a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment to sideline the state's redistricting commission and let lawmakers directly implement a new map. The Virginia delegation to the U.S. House is currently six Democrats and four Republicans and could go to 10-to-1 under the new map. The move still faces court challenges but could put Democrats ahead in tilting House seats their way - for now. Sponsor Message Loading... Florida lawmakers might be up next. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has called on them to meet next week and consider redistricting that could favor Republicans picking up more seats. News Trump prompted a battle over voting maps. Here's how redistricting affects voters The debate in Virginia sounded a lot like it did in other states. Opponents said it would make the state's delegation in the House favor Democrats much more heavily than the proportion of Democratic and Republican voters in the state. Proponents argued that it's not about what's going on in the state but about the moves Trump has prompted across the country in Republican-led states. Redistricting divides up votes and Trump pushed for an edge this fall Redistricting is when states redraw district lines, which usually happens at the start of a decade when the U.S. census count determines how many seats each state has in the House of Representatives. Gerrymandering is when politicians purposely...