Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that grants the state’s Democrat-controlled General Assembly authority to redraw congressional district maps, a move Republicans warn could cement a lopsided partisan advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The vote was finalized approximately 90 minutes after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET, with opposition ballots initially leading by about 36,000 votes. However, most remaining votes came from Democrat-leaning areas including Fairfax County and Richmond, securing passage for the amendment.
This measure temporarily suspends Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting system, empowering lawmakers to adopt new congressional districts through 2030.
Democrats have already passed a proposed map that could shift the state’s current 6-5 Democratic edge in its 11-member congressional delegation to as much as a 10-1 advantage.
Republicans and allies of President Donald Trump had urged voters to reject the amendment, arguing it constitutes an aggressive partisan gerrymander that would dilute Republican representation and rural voting power. Supporters countered that the change responds to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states.
Opponents warned that Virginia voters already approved a nonpartisan redistricting system in 2020 and that overturning it opens the door for nationwide tit-for-tat map drawing.
The referendum attracted tens of millions of dollars in campaign spending, becoming one of the most closely watched ballot measures nationally with significant implications for control of the House.
With voter approval now secured, the new congressional map is expected to take effect ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, pending the outcome of ongoing legal challenges.
