Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is urging voters to reject a ballot initiative that would establish a new congressional redistricting process favoring Democrats, calling it a “gerrymandered grab of power.”
Voters head to the polls Tuesday to consider a measure that would repeal the commonwealth’s 2020 constitutional reform. That amendment, approved by roughly two-thirds of voters, created a bipartisan commission designed to limit direct political control over drawing congressional and legislative maps.
The proposed amendment, backed by Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger, would strip authority from the Virginia Redistricting Commission and return that power to the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
Virginia’s U.S. House delegation consists of six Democrats and five Republicans. However, maps proposed by Democratic state lawmakers who crafted the referendum would temporarily create 10 districts backing Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and one district backing President Donald Trump. The measure would allow the state’s independent redistricting process to resume as scheduled in 2030.
“Today, we have what is assessed as the fairest map in America,” Youngkin, a Republican, said Monday according to the Washington Examiner, citing a Fox News interview. “I don’t love it. Six Democrats and five Republicans, but it is fair.” He added, “[Spanberger] wants to turn it into the most gerrymandered map in America.”
“It is wrong,” Youngkin stated. “People in Virginia should stand up and vote no tomorrow.”
Last year, former President Donald Trump encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps to preserve their narrow House majority ahead of midterm elections. His call prompted states including Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah to approve new maps that could add as many as nine Republican seats.
Democrat-led states have countered with efforts to blunt potential GOP gains, such as California voters approving a constitutional amendment that suspends the state’s independent commission for this election cycle and replaces it with a map projected to secure about five additional Democratic-leaning seats.
Youngkin noted: “There is a chance. That’s because it is viewed as being such a gerrymandered grab of power.” He also said, “They’ve lied to us. Even The Washington Post came out and said this is the most brazenly dishonest campaign from the yes vote, and they effectively endorsed the no vote.”
“The reality is a no vote is for the fairest maps in America,” he added. “They have poured $70 million into this—more than they spent on the governor’s race—in a very short period of time to try to fool, deceive, and trick people in Virginia.”
A Washington Post-Schar School poll released April 3 showed 52% to 47% of likely voters support the measure. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents demonstrated higher engagement than Democrats, with 85% saying they are certain to or have voted compared to 77% of Democrats. Early voting began March 6.
