Virginia democrats move forward with redistricting efforts ahead of midterms

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia democrats are moving forward with redistricting efforts ahead of the midterms next year. On Wednesday, the amendment, HJ6007, made it out of a committee and passed a full House of Delegates vote.

The text of the proposed amendment keeps the nonpartisan Redistricting Commission created 5 years ago.

This would temporarily circumvent that. Democrats maintain they will only move forward with this if more republicans in any other states take up redistricting.

“Unfortunately, we are where we are, you know, and I think what we’re doing here in Virginia, while not ideal, I would not prefer to do this. I do think it’s a proportional response to what’s really an extraordinary situation,” said State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D), 16th District.

Republicans are against the move and call it a power grab.

Democrats control six of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts and say any potential redistricting would yield them two or three more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington.

“This is a really unconstitutional and I think illegal action that we are dealing with. Democrats want to try to take gerrymandering back,” said State Sen. Glen Sturtevant, (R) 12th District.

The Senate took action on a procedural move that then allows it to take up the redistricting amendment.

A final vote in the Senate should happen on Friday, and then Virginians will have to wait for the new session to start in January for the next steps.

If passed next session, voters would see the measure on the ballot by late spring or early summer.

Members of the GOP also filed a lawsuit in Tazwell County challenging the return to session and claiming only the governor can call lawmakers back, not the speaker of the house.

They’re asking a judge to intervene and stop the session from continuing. That was denied today, but the case can move forward.

The next court date is Nov. 5, which is the day after the election.