By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that could reshape the state’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and majority control coming out of the 2026 midterms.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:49 p.m., with unofficial results showing 50.3% voting in favor and 49.7% opposed. With 89% of votes tallied at time of publication, yes votes led 51.3%-48.7% from more than 2.8 million cast.
The outcome – if able to survive the Virginia Supreme Court or higher – flipped the projected net gains and losses of the two major parties in the nationwide map redrawing tussle, Democrats going from down three to up one. Briefs in litigation are due to the Virginia Supreme Court on Thursday.
Control of the U.S. House remains closely divided. With three new resignations and two oaths of offices taken since Tuesday of last week, there are four vacancies, 217 Republicans, 213 Democrats and one independent caucusing with his former colleagues in the Republican Party.
On Election Day 2024, Republicans won a 220-215 majority.
The state has six Democrats and five Republicans in the House, and the proposed map would shift that to as many as a 10-1 Democratic-leaning advantage.
Voters were asked to decide yes or no on a measure allowing the General Assembly to temporarily redraw congressional districts before the next census.
According to the Department of Elections, state law is, “Virginia’s 11 congressional districts are drawn once every 10 years by the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a legislative body made up of eight legislators and eight citizens, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Virginia’s congressional districts were last redrawn in 2021 and will next be redrawn in 2031.”
The ballot question asked voters: “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 redistricting after the 2030 census?”
With the amendment approved, the General Assembly – where Democrats hold majorities in both chambers and the governor’s office – can move forward with a congressional map already passed and currently facing legal challenges. The redistricting commission would resume responsibility for drawing maps in 2031.
If the amendment had failed, Virginia would have continued using its current congressional districts drawn after the 2020 census under the state’s redistricting commission process.
According to campaign finance records, a combined $111 million was spent on the amendment, including more than $22 million in opposition. That total far exceeds the $2.7 million spent during Virginia’s last redistricting amendment, which voters approved 65.7%-34.3%.
The results again showed Virginia’s regional divide, with Democratic strength concentrated in Northern Virginia and urban centers, while Republican support remained dominant in rural and western parts of the state. Competitive jurisdictions such as Virginia Beach and Chesterfield County again emerged as key battlegrounds.
Virginia’s results may not be finalized Tuesday night. All mailed ballots must be received by Friday at noon in the general registrar’s office.
New maps are in play for the 2026 elections in California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Litigation has also led to changes in Utah and remains ongoing in Georgia, Louisiana and New York.
In addition to Virginia, Florida next week begins a special session on the matter. Neighboring Maryland’s bid died last week.
California has the potential to flip five seats to Democrats for a 48-4 representation for the party and Utah one to Democrats cutting into Republicans’ 4-0 representation. For Republicans, Missouri (to 7-1) and North Carolina (to 11-3) could gain one seat each; Ohio two (to 12-3); and Texas five (to 30-7).
