What the Passage of the Virginia Redistricting Plan Means for Control of Congress

A redistricting referendum passed in Virginia, allowing Democrats to potentially flip up to four House seats ahead of the fall midterm elections. The ballot measure received 51% support from some 3 million voters, amending Virginia’s constitution to temporarily grant the state’s general assembly, currently controlled by Democrats, authority to redraw its congressional map. This change could prove critical in Democrats' push to take control of the House, where Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority. The proposed map could give Democrats an advantage in 10 of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, up from the current six. The general assembly will retain this power until Oct. 31, 2030, after which it will return to Virginia’s nonpartisan redistricting commission.