In rural Virginia, excitement and dread grows over Democrats’ redistricting referendum

Signs in support of the Virginia redistricting referendum are seen as Jen Strozier and Doug Mock, members of the Goochland Democratic Committee, order lunch at GG's Pizza, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Maiden, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) 2026-04-04T11:40:31Z LOUISA, Va. (AP) — Michael Shull never imagined that a Democrat from the wealthy suburbs of Washington would represent his community in Congress.

His corner of Virginia, with its sprawling farms and winding country roads, has been electing Republicans for more than three decades.

Then came an unusual nationwide redistricting battle , with Democrats and Republicans redrawing congressional lines to boost their chances in November’s midterm elections.

Virginia could be next as voters consider a new map that would pair conservative rural areas with liberal suburbs, diluting Republicans’ electoral clout. “Politicians should be elected to be their people’s voice,” said Shull, a Republican member of Augusta County’s board of supervisors. “Not their party’s voice.” The vote on the constitutional amendment is on April 21, and early balloting has begun.

If voters pass the referendum and it survives a court challenge , Shull’s area within the county would be split between the 7th and 9th Congressional Districts.

While the 9th District would be the state’s lone Republican stronghold, the 7th District would resemble a lobster with the long tail beginning in Democrat-dominated Arlington and two claws reaching south into rural communities.

Congressional districts are usually redrawn once a decade, but President Donald Trump started a chain reaction last year by encouraging Texas Republicans to devise a new map to help the party in November.

After a cascade of redistricting efforts, Republicans believe they can win a combined nine more U.S.

House seats in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, while Democrats think they can win a total of six more seats in California and Utah.

Virginia could give Democrats an extra four seats — enough to overturn the GOP’s slim majority, at least as things stand now. “It’s about making sure that we fight back to what Trump’s done,” said U.S.

Rep.

Don Beyer, D-Va., He said the party needs to persuade voters that the referendum is “not about embracing gerrymandering.” “I feel optimistic, but it’s close,” he said.

Read More A rural-urban divide The referendum comes at a moment when Virginia Democrats have tried to make up ground in rural areas.

Last year, De

原文链接: AP News