Virginia redistricting referendum results: What changes, who benefits

Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, a Republican, said "the legal fight is just beginning" after voters in the commonwealth approved a redistricting referendum.

"The 'yes' vote has won Va's redistricting referendum — but the legal fight is just beginning. Four Va Constitutional challenges are now teed up," Cuccinelli, who also previously served in the Virginia Senate, wrote on X.

He said there will be three challenges to the amendment process itself, arguing that the referendum's first passage was invalid, that an election must intervene between the first and second passage of the measure, and that insufficient time elapsed between final passage and the vote on Tuesday.

Cuccinelli also cited a statute that requires that "every electoral district shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory," as he argued that the new redistricting maps violate the contiguity requirement

"Next stop, court. Stay tuned," he said.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said that Virginians sent President Donald Trump and the Republican Party a "clear message" after voters in the commonwealth approved a redistricting referendum.

"Donald Trump and Republicans have tried to rig the 2026 midterms," Harris wrote in a post on X.

"Today in Virginia, voters sent them a clear message: The power is with the people," she continued.

Former President Barack Obama congratulated Virginia after voters approved a redistricting referendum, saying residents of the commonwealth showed what it looks like to "stand up for our democracy" and "fight back."

"Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet," Obama wrote on X.

"Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back," the former president continued.

The head of House Democrats’ campaign arm is framing Virginia’s redistricting vote as a political win for her party and a setback for the Republicans.

“Tonight’s result is a victory for every American who wants fair representation in Congress, a massive rebuke of Donald Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rig the midterm elections,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said after the measure passed.

She also pointed to Virginia’s role in the battle for control of the House, where the GOP currently holds a razor-thin majority.

“Virginia will play a central role in our path back to the House majority, and we are well-positioned to flip seats throughout the Commonwealth in November,” DelBene said.

The House Republican campaign committee chair says that the narrow passage on Tuesday of Democratic-fueled congressional redistricting in Virginia “can’t redraw reality.”

In a statement moments after the Associated Press reported that Virginia’s congressional redistricting referendum was passed by voters, National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina said:

“This close margin reinforces that Virginia is a purple state that shouldn’t be represented by a severe partisan gerrymander.”

“That’s exactly why the courts, who have already ruled twice to block this egregious power grab, should uphold Virginia law. Even under this map, Republicans will hold our majority based on our record cleaning up Democrats’ mess and a historic war chest to litigate the Democrats’ failures,” Hudson argued.

And he emphasized that “Virginia Democrats can’t redraw reality.”

Passage of the ballot measure gives the Democratic-controlled Virginia legislature — rather than the state's current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10-1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6-5 edge.

And if upheld by Virginia’s Supreme Court, the redrawn map could give the Democrats four additional left-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms as the party tries to win back control of the chamber from the GOP, which currently holds a razor-thin majority.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said voters “have spoken” after approving the state’s redistricting referendum, framing the outcome as a response to President Donald Trump.

“Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress,” Spanberger said in a statement following the vote.

Spanberger said Virginians chose to address the issue “the right way: at the ballot box,” contrasting the vote with actions taken in other states.

“I understand the urgency of winning congressional seats as a check on this President,” she added, saying she looks forward to campaigning with candidates across the commonwealth.

The governor also emphasized that the measure is temporary, pledging to ensure Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting commission resumes its role after the 2030 census.

“I remain committed to ensuring Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission gets back to work after the 2030 census,” she said.

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is framing the passage of Virginia’s redistricting referendum as a political rebuke of President Donald Trump.

“Tonight, Virginia voters sent a clear message rejecting Donald Trump’s attacks on our free and fair elections,” DGA Chair Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement following the vote.

Beshear described the measure’s passage as “an important step to level the playing field” and called it “a major loss for Donald Trump,” arguing the president is “trying to rig the midterms.”

The Kentucky governor also praised Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, crediting her “leadership to help pass this measure.”

“This is another important reminder of why electing Democratic governors matters more than ever,” Beshear added.

Former Secretary of State and Democrat Hillary Clinton is urging Virginia voters to support the state’s redistricting referendum in a post on X as polls remain open Tuesday.

“Virginians: Today's the last day to vote on an important redistricting measure,” Clinton wrote. “I hope you'll vote YES—for Virginia, and for the entire country.”

Clinton also directed voters to resources to locate their polling place ahead of the deadline.

Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., said he voted against Virginia’s redistricting referendum and is urging others to do the same before polls close Tuesday evening.

“I voted NO,” Cline wrote in a post on X.

“I voted NO against liberal tyranny. I voted NO against ripping apart the Blue Ridge,” he continued. “I voted NO against a radical agenda that wants to import illegal immigrants, confiscate your firearms, and take your money.”

Cline also called on voters to act before polls close.

“Vote NO today before polls close at 7pm,” he wrote.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said turnout will be key as Virginia voters decide a closely watched redistricting referendum, telling reporters he believes supporters of the measure entered Election Day with a “solid, but not large lead.”

“How I expect it to go depends on the turnout,” Kaine said Tuesday afternoon in remarks to gathered press. “Going into today, based on polling and the analysis of early votes, I feel like we had a solid, but not large lead for the yes campaign.”

Kaine also tied the state's ballot measure to national politics, arguing the effort is a response to actions by President Donald Trump.

“It’s the only reason this is happening in Virginia, is Donald Trump has tried to rig the elections,” Kaine said.

Kaine also referenced congressional races in neighboring North Carolina, arguing their outcomes influenced federal legislation with impacts in Virginia.

“Just the North Carolina seats that the president helped steal was the difference in passing the reconciliation bill,” he said, pointing to policies affecting programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

Kaine further raised concerns about future elections, suggesting Virginians are weighing the possibility of interference in upcoming cycles.

“What are the odds that Donald Trump will try to interfere with election results in November of '26 or November '28 if he doesn’t like that? And I think the answer is they’re very, very high,” he said.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing Virginia voters to support the state’s redistricting referendum in a video message posted to X ahead of Election Day.

“Virginia, you have the absolute power to elect a Democratic Congress that will respect the people and hold Trump accountable,” Pelosi wrote in the post.

In the accompanying video, Pelosi criticizes Republican policies, saying, “They took a trillion dollars out of Medicaid. They took half a trillion out of Medicare. Hundreds of billions of dollars out of SNAP… to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in America.”

She continues, calling the Republican-led policies “Robin Hood in reverse,” and arguing they come “at the expense of the health and the well-being of families.”

The video includes on-screen text that reads: “Republicans gutted health care and food for millions to give massive tax breaks to billionaires. Vote yes Virginia to take back the House.”

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is urging Virginia voters to reject the state’s redistricting referendum in a video posted to X ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

“Virginia voters, make sure you get out today and vote no on the proposition that is before you,” Meadows said in the video. “Obviously, this redistricting is a big deal, lots of money pouring in from all over the country, trying to set up Hakeem Jeffries to be the next speaker of the House.”

Meadows framed the ballot measure as part of a broader national political fight, adding that it is “important that your voice is heard.”

“So again, get out and vote no,” he said.

LEESBURG, Va. — Virginians head to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a congressional redistricting referendum that, if passed, could give Democrats a significant boost in the battle for the U.S. House majority in this year's midterm elections.

If the ballot measure is successful, it would give the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature — rather than the state's current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10-1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6-5 edge.

That would give the Democrats four additional left-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms as the party tries to win back control of the chamber from the GOP, which currently holds a razor-thin majority.

"It's the most partisan map in America," former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin told supporters at his final campaign stop on the eve of the election in this northern Virginia town on the far end of Washington, D.C.'s suburbs.

Pointing to the Democrats pushing new maps, Youngkin charged, "What they are doing is immoral."

Teaming up with Youngkin to crisscross the state in leading the GOP opposition to the ballot initiative was former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who told the crowd the Democrats' map is one that "you draw when you’re drunk with power."

Speaking with Fox News Digital ahead of their final election eve rally, Miyares charged that "Democrats want to take away the voices of millions of Virginians and gerrymander the state."

Youngkin, pointing to the duo's relentless campaigning in recent weeks, said "what we’re hearing over and over and over again is Virginians want fair maps. And what the yes vote represents are unfair maps."

And the two Republicans reiterated their charge that the referendum was an "unconstitutional power grab" by the Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the Democrats who control the state legislature.

As Youngkin and Miyares were speaking in Leesburg, President Donald Trump took to the airwaves on a popular Virginia-based conservative talk show and later teamed up with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to urge voters to defeat the referendum.

Pointing to congressional Democrats, Trump warned that "if they get these additional seats, they're going to be making changes at the federal level."

Democrats counter that the redrawing of the maps is a necessary step to balance out partisan gerrymandering already implemented by Republicans in other states at Trump's urging.

"By voting yes, you have the chance to do something important — not just for the commonwealth, but for our entire country," former President Barack Obama said in a video released Friday on the eve of the final day of early voting. "By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms."

"By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we're counting on you," the former president added.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser, Charles Creitz, and Fox News' Mark Meredith.

Virginia voters are weighing a constitutional amendment on redistricting, as shown in an image of the ballot provided to Fox News Digital, which asks:

“Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future elections, including after the 2030 census?”

The language presented to voters outlines a proposal to permit the Virginia General Assembly to adopt new congressional districts with the state’s existing redistricting process set to resume after the next census cycle in 2030.

A vote “yes” would approve the amendment as written on the ballot, while a vote “no” would leave the current system unchanged.

Critics have raised concerns about the phrasing of the question, particularly “restore fairness,” arguing that such wording could be interpreted differently by voters and does not define specific outcomes.

Opponents of Virginia Democrats’ redistricting referendum are accusing Gov. Abigail Spanberger of a "bait and switch," pointing to her campaign-trail pledge of "no plans" to redraw the state's congressional map ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Former Virginia Govs. George Allen and Glenn Youngkin, along with a slew of top conservatives, have opposed the effort, which would redraw the commonwealth’s 6-5 Democratic map to a 10-1 map crafted by Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and backed by Spanberger.

"Behold the great bait and switch," Del. Michael Webert, R-Fauquier, said, sharing a screenshot of October reporting highlighting Spanberger’s apparent pledge not to support what she now is vocally behind.

"Vote No," said Webert, whose district forms a boundary between the Washington, D.C., suburbs set to accrue political power if the referendum passes and the hundreds of miles of rural expanse south and west that are poised to lose their voice.

The latter is a major concern for U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, a Botetourt Republican whose district runs from Roanoke to the northernmost West Virginia line at Berryville along the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, which Cline said stand to lose their otherwise homogenous voice in Washington.

Cline told Fox News Digital how Spanberger was previously a colleague on the House Agriculture Committee and "loved to talk about her connection to Virginia agriculture."

"My district is currently the most agriculture-based district in Virginia and she has chopped it into five different districts and parceled it out to Northern Virginia Democrats to use to make their numbers work," he said, adding that the referendum is offensive to Virginia farmers in particular.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Charles Creitz.

Tens of millions of dollars — much of it dark money from undisclosed donors — poured into Virginia this year ahead of Tuesday's vote on a congressional redistricting referendum that, if passed, could give Democrats a significant boost in the battle for the U.S. House majority in this year's midterm elections.

If the ballot measure is successful, it would give the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature — rather than the state's current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10-1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6-5 edge.

The referendum, which follows President Donald Trump's push for rare but not unheard-of mid-decade redistricting in Republican-led states, could give Democrats an edge as they try to win back control of the House from Republicans, who are defending a fragile majority.

Supporters of redistricting have dramatically outraised and outspent groups opposed to the referendum, with Democrat-aligned Virginians for Fair Elections raising roughly three times as much as GOP-allied Virginians for Fair Maps. But despite the Democrats' funding advantage, public opinion polling suggests support for the ballot initiative is only slightly ahead of opposition amid a surge in early voting, which ended Saturday.

"They have outspent us three to one. They’ve raised over $70 million. And yet this is a close vote," former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, one of leaders of the GOP effort to defeat the referendum, told Fox News Digital on the eve of the election.

Much of the funding raised by both sides came from so-called "dark money" from nonprofit public policy groups known as 501(c)(4) organizations that are not required to disclose their donors. This according to a Fox News Digital review of state campaign finance records and records from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), which tracks public spending in Virginia.

"It points to the importance of this referendum," David Richards, political science chair at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, told Fox News Digital, as he highlighted the influx of outside money pouring into the state.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser.

Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume discussed Virginia’s congressional redistricting plans in an appearance on "Special Report" on Monday.

Hume argued Democrats were involved in a blatant push to secure more "power" in Congress, blasting Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

President Donald Trump is urging Virginians going to the polls Tuesday to reject a redistricting ballot measure that could hand Democrats as many as four House seats in November, a large haul with House Republicans hanging onto a slim majority.

"This referendum is a blatant partisan power grab that nobody’s really ever seen anything like it," Trump told a telerally call with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday night, The Hill reported.

Just say "no" to Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger's push, he added.

"It’s the liberal extremist Gov. Abigail Spanberger, too bad, and the far-left Democrats in Richmond after Spanberger promised Virginia voters that she would never do this," he told the call. "And if it passes, Virginia Democrats will eliminate four out of five congressional seats, so you’re going to get just wiped out in terms of representation in Washington.

"That’s what it’s all about. Please get out and vote and vote no. It’s very simple," the president added. "Just vote no." 

Virginia has moved to push through a new map before the 2026 midterms, something that would not otherwise happen before the 2030 census.

Democrats currently hold six of the 11 House seats in Virginia, a state that narrowly went for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, but the new map would hand the Democrats a huge 10-1 advantage.

Among the nearly 6 million registered voters in the state of Virginia, Democrats do have an edge, but not one that wide. The state is majority Democrat (51.24%), but Republicans (30.56%) and independents (18.2%) are both well represented, according to Independent Voter Project data.

"We have to stand up for fair maps and we have to vote no," Johnson told the call. 

"As your speaker of the House, I see firsthand every single day how all five of those members are leading the fight on things like lowering costs and securing our borders and making Virginia and America great again," he said. "And we need to return all five of them to Congress this November."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Eric Mack.