In Virginia Redistricting Win, Democrats Play Hardball to Thwart Trump

New York Times
by Kellen Browning
April 22, 2026
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Democrats in Virginia are using gerrymandering to thwart President Trump, showing a willingness for extreme measures.

AI Summary

Democrats in Virginia are openly engaging in "hardball" tactics, including gerrymandering, to secure a redistricting win. This strategy reflects a growing willingness among Democrats to employ aggressive measures when they perceive high stakes. The primary objective of these actions is to thwart President Donald Trump's political influence. This move signals a shift in Democratic strategy, embracing tactics they previously criticized, to gain an advantage in electoral maps.

Source Coverage Map

15 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

35% coverage
Did Not Cover (28)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+23 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

With Virginia vote, Democrats gain edge over Trump's national GOP redistricting push
Politics

With Virginia vote, Democrats gain edge over Trump's national GOP redistricting push

After Virginia voters weighed in on Tuesday, the redistricting set off by President Trump to help the GOP in the midterms has been countered and possibly surpassed by Democrats.

NPRApr 22
Virginia’s redistricting vote ‘a critical step’ for the swing state
Politics

Virginia’s redistricting vote ‘a critical step’ for the swing state

<p>Purple state which recently elected a Democratic governor will now choose whether to replace existing voting maps with ones that favor Democrats</p><p>Nearly three months to the day after his term as Virginia’s governor ended, Republican Glenn Youngkin stood in an unshaded corner of an office parking lot to warn<strong> </strong>dozens of conservative activists that they were in the midst of “the most important election” in the commonwealth’s 237-year history.</p><p>The question before the voters casting ballots at an early voting precinct a few yards away in the city of Leesburg ahead of Tuesday’s special election was whether to temporarily set aside Virginia’s congressional maps intended to advantage neither party and replace them with a new version that could allow Democrats to win all but one seat in the 11-member delegation in the November midterm elections.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/19/virginias-map-redistricting-vote-swing-state">Continue re...

The Guardian US NewsApr 19
Sharpton: Democrats want a ‘fighter’ to take on Trump amid 2028 speculation
Politics

Sharpton: Democrats want a ‘fighter’ to take on Trump amid 2028 speculation

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton said that Democrats want “a fighter” to lead the party in the 2028 presidential election.  “They want somebody that will get in the ring and say, ‘You knock me out or I’ll knock you out, Donald Trump,’” Sharpton told MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace on Friday.  “And that’s what they…

The HillApr 18
Ex-Attorney General Eric Holder says Virginia redistricting referendum is a "national fight"
Politics

Ex-Attorney General Eric Holder says Virginia redistricting referendum is a "national fight"

As Virginia voters are deciding whether to redraw their congressional map to try to give Democrats a 10-1 seat advantage, former Attorney General Eric Holder, who had once advocated against partisan gerrymandering, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that Democrats "have to deal with this crisis that is in front of us that Republicans put before the nation."

CBS NewsApr 19
House Democrats attempt anti-corruption message to gain traction against Trump
Politics

House Democrats attempt anti-corruption message to gain traction against Trump

Days after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was ousted by an opposition campaign with an anti-corruption message, Democrats want to try the same playbook against President Donald Trump before the midterm elections.

PBS NewsHourApr 15
Indiana primary will test Trump’s control over Republican Party after redistricting defiance - AP News
Politics

Indiana primary will test Trump’s control over Republican Party after redistricting defiance - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNVHBnenhucVUyai0zSGpHczV3MEpjeHJTWGVocHBoNGdzMDBYcDJrVkZicGVYVVI3eUM5R3NpV09Rb0hHZjRoS0RrSEszOGx3SWpvYmxzYjllNmszNXpjanRwa2dvVXpQUWg0ajgwcjlOMmlmVHNhMFppRmx5NkRZbTlKbTU3UlhpQUkzSDkwUnVOZ3otNlB4UlBVV3RTeW5mZFF2NEdHMVBlenQ5RVBLZkJaVTJRRVpVSzFJS1J0STY1dw?oc=5" target="_blank">Indiana primary will test Trump’s control over Republican Party after redistricting defiance</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 18
Read Next
Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian
Politics

Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources