A Virginia Circuit Court judge’s decision to strike down a redistricting referendum has temporarily blocked what Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., described as an aggressive Democratic Party effort to reshape congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections.
“We’re a little bit concerned,” Donalds said Thursday. “Even if you read the ballot language that Virginians had to decide, it was the most convoluted, confusing thing I’ve ever read in my life to ever be on a ballot—and it was by design.”
The judge ruled the referendum unconstitutional, halting potential changes that could have shifted several congressional seats. State officials stated they plan to appeal the decision.
Donalds criticized the proposed maps for redrawing districts in Northern Virginia in ways that would benefit Democrats. “If you look at their new map that they want to push forward, they basically take pieces of Northern Virginia and strip those pieces out to the suburbs and rural Virginia to make Democrat seats,” he said. “This is insanity.”
He noted similar redistricting efforts have occurred in Illinois and Massachusetts. “The judge, I think, did the right thing,” Donalds added. “If you look at that ballot language, it’s just an insane way to tell voters what they’re going to do.”
Turning to Florida, Donalds said state leaders are expected to review congressional maps during a special legislative session. He emphasized any changes would reflect the state’s political trends: “They’re going to go back, look at our maps, and make sure those maps represent the will of the people of Florida.” He added that Florida has trended more Republican in recent years.
Donalds also stated Florida does not intend to mirror what he described as more aggressive redistricting practices elsewhere. “Florida’s always made sure communities are contiguous,” he said.
On federal matters, Donalds reported the House is expected to pass legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security through budget reconciliation after the Senate approved a measure early Thursday. “It will come to the House, the House will pass it out and fund the Department of Homeland Security,” he stated.
He criticized Democrats over ongoing partial shutdowns affecting DHS operations, citing impacts on agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. Additionally, Donalds condemned comments from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., regarding reports of Iranian ships evading a U.S. blockade: “You have a sitting United States senator who’s rooting against our military overseas—this is nuts.”
