Virginia legislators to begin special session for redistricting

Virginia legislators are to begin a special session for redistricting on Monday, which Democrats had announced last week.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D) called members of the House of Delegates to a special session on Monday at 4 p.m., 13News Now reported.

Democrats already hold six of 11 congressional seats, and are looking to add two or three more ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Democratic House Delegate Cia Price told the news outlet that "It’s more important than ever to protect Virginians’ right to fair representation.

"Across the country, we’ve seen unprecedented attacks on our democracy, from mid-decade redistricting in states like Texas and North Carolina to efforts that silence voters’ voices. I look forward to constructive discussions this week and to doing my part to ensure Virginia continues to stand as a model for free elections and a government accountable to the people, not Donald Trump’s power grabs."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) told 13News Now regarding the Democrats' redistricting, "I just think this is a sham. I think it's representative of Democratic leaders in this state who are desperate for power any way they can get. If they can't get it from the voters, they will do anything to run around the voters."

The Virginia Democrats' plan follows Republicans in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina who have redrawn congressional maps at President Trump's urging to help the GOP gain more seats in the House of Representatives next year. Indiana is also calling a special session for redistricting.

Virginia is following California, where state Democratic leaders called a Nov. 4 special election to let voters decide whether to approve a new congressional map that could net the party up to five additional seats.

Similar to California, Virginia has a redistricting commission written into the commonwealth's Constitution, which Democratic lawmakers will need to go around to redraw the congressional maps.

To amend Virginia's Constitution, both legislative chambers must approve a measure twice, with a general state House election occurring between the two approvals. If Democrats can push through a measure to either bypass or eliminate the redistricting commission before next month's election, then they could vote again on a proposed amendment at the next scheduled session in January and send it to the voters, without needing Youngkin's approval.

Virginia Democrats will have just eight calendar days starting Monday to advance a resolution through the committee and floor process in both the House and the Senate. To pass the proposed amendment again after the election, Democrats would have to maintain their narrow control of the legislature.