Virginia currently has one of the most balanced congressional delegations in the country. In the 2024 elections, Democrats received 51.4% of the statewide congressional vote while Republicans received about 47.6%. The current congressional delegation reflects that closely, with a 6-to-5 Democratic majority.
This is how it should be, because just six years ago in 2020, 66 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing an independent redistricting commission to remove partisan map-drawing from politicians’ hands.
But that reform is now under threat from a heavily gerrymandered congressional district map that was illegally placed on the ballot in a referendum scheduled for April 21, 2026. Early voting has already started.
Virginia currently has one of the most balanced congressional delegations in the country. In the 2024 elections, Democrats received 51.4% of the statewide congressional vote while Republicans received about 47.6%. The current congressional delegation reflects that closely, with a 6-to-5 Democratic majority.
This is how it should be, because just six years ago in 2020, 66 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing an independent redistricting commission to remove partisan map-drawing from politicians’ hands.
But that reform is now under threat from a heavily gerrymandered congressional district map that was illegally placed on the ballot in a referendum scheduled for April 21, 2026. Early voting has already started.
It’s a clear attempt to make it nearly impossible for Republicans to win congressional elections in 10 of 11 Congressional districts, or 91 percent of Virginia.
Yes, the new map would unfairly favor one party over the other by a 10-to-1 margin. The scheme would assign new representation to communities that never requested it and may even be tailored to benefit specific politicians based on where their homes are located.
Take Fairfax County, heavily populated in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. The new map divides Fairfax into five segments and attaches the pieces to sprawling districts that stretch deep into rural parts of the state. The result resembles an octopus, with tentacles extending outward from the D.C. suburbs across Virginia.
Under this configuration, most rural voters will be represented by lawmakers from Fairfax County who were chosen by voters in the D.C. suburbs. There would be no shared geography or community.
Stop the Gerrymander is a 501(c)(4) organization formed by Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06), whose constituents would be among those affected.
“This is an issue that affects my own district, of course, but it’s also unfair to all Virginians, which is why this must be a statewide effort,” Cline said. “And I am confident that our fair-minded citizens will reject this unconstitutional redrawing of district lines to benefit one political party over the other.”
Cline announced that skilled operative John Pudner would run grassroots and voter outreach efforts in all corners of the Commonwealth.
It’s a clear attempt to make it nearly impossible for Republicans to win congressional elections in 10 of 11 Congressional districts, or 91 percent of Virginia.
Yes, the new map would unfairly favor one party over the other by a 10-to-1 margin. The scheme would assign new representation to communities that never requested it and may even be tailored to benefit specific politicians based on where their homes are located.
Take Fairfax County, heavily populated in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. The new map divides Fairfax into five segments and attaches the pieces to sprawling districts that stretch deep into rural parts of the state. The result resembles an octopus, with tentacles extending outward from the D.C. suburbs across Virginia.
Under this configuration, most rural voters will be represented by lawmakers from Fairfax County who were chosen by voters in the D.C. suburbs. There would be no shared geography or community.
Stop the Gerrymander is a 501(c)(4) organization formed by Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06), whose constituents would be among those affected.
“This is an issue that affects my own district, of course, but it’s also unfair to all Virginians, which is why this must be a statewide effort,” Cline said. “And I am confident that our fair-minded citizens will reject this unconstitutional redrawing of district lines to benefit one political party over the other.”
Cline announced that skilled operative John Pudner would run grassroots and voter outreach efforts in all corners of the Commonwealth.