This has been updated Oct. 27, noon, with responses from candidates in House Districts 43 and 73.
As they prepare to assemble in Richmond on Monday for a hastily called special session, Democratic legislators are silent on their plans to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow for the General Assembly to draw congressional lines in time for the 2026 congressional midterms.
Cardinal News attempted to contact all 100 members of the House of Delegates and, where they have them, their opponents in this fall’s election, to ask their position on the proposed amendment. Not a single Democratic legislator replied, although some Democratic challengers did and indicated their support for the idea. Of the Republicans who replied, all were opposed.
Here’s who replied and what they said. If a district isn’t listed, it means neither the incumbent nor the challenger responded. To see how candidates stand on other issues, see our Voter Guide and look up your locality.
District 7: Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, D-Fairfax County, vs. Republican Cass Aucoin
Keys-Gamarra (D): No response.
Aucoin (R): “Oppose.”
District 11: Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax County, vs. Republican Adam Wise vs. Forward Party candidate Brandon Givens
Bulova (D): No response.
Wise (R): “I would want to know the reason for the proposed changes before I made a decision.”
Givens (Forward): No response.
District 13: Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax County, vs. Republican Sylwia Oleksy vs. Libertarian Dave Crance
Simon (D): No response.
Oleksy (R): No response.
Crance (Libertarian): “No. Article 12 section 1 of the Virginia constitution states such a measure must be passed before the next House of Delegates general election then passed again in a session after that election to go to the ballot.
“Being as the current general election for the House of Delegates elections began the moment the first ballot was cast the earliest they should be able to bring the second vote should be after the next general election in 2027. Anything earlier disenfranchises the thousands of voters who already cast their ballots and invalidates the purpose/intent of that section.
“It seems pretty obvious the wording is meant to give the voters an opportunity to replace their delegates in an election if they are unhappy with their position on a proposed amendment. I am fine if they run it for the 2028 session as the constitution states it should be — that’s honors the will of voters.”
District 32: Del. Bill Wiley, R-Frederick County, vs. Democrat Jon Michael Lucci
Lucci (D): No response.
Wiley (R): “Oppose.”
District 34: Del. Tony Wilt, R-Rockingham County, vs. Democrat Andrew Payton
Payton (D): “With less than two weeks left, I am very focused on the election right now!”
Wilt (R): “Just a few years ago, both parties agreed to a transparent process that produced fair and reasonable maps by many independent accounts. Neither party was completely satisfied by the outcome, which likely means it was fair. Virginia voters overwhelmingly approved this process through the ballot initiative, by 65.7%. Now, Democrats are prepared to renege on that agreement in pursuit of their own political advantage, following the marching orders of Washington Democrats who continue to hold our federal government hostage … Virginians should be clear-eyed: this isn’t about serving the people; it’s about protecting and increasing the power of the Democratic Party. If they proceed, this is a partisan power grab, plain and simple.”
District 35: Del. Chris Runion, R-Rockingham County, vs. Democrat Jena Crisler
Crisler (D): No response.
Runion (R): “I am adamantly opposed to this blatant political stunt. It flies in the face of the citizens of Virginia who overwhelmingly decided this issue. So disappointing to see such a reckless disregard for the fundamental right of citizens to pick their own representatives.”
District 39: Del. Will Davis, R-Franklin County, vs. Democrat Eric Klotz
Klotz (D): “I support Virginia’s special session to redistrict because voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. Fair maps mean fair elections and a stronger democracy!”
Davis (R): No response.
District 40: Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County, vs. Democrat Donna Littlepage
Littlepage (D): “I was a staunch supporter of Virginia 2021 for many years. A bipartisan commission truly resonated with me because it felt like it brought more fairness to a system that seems rigged by those in power much of the time. And for that same reason, I find the initial efforts of Republican led states to rig the system for the upcoming mid-term elections, completely inappropriate. Now here we are with the question of what should Democratic led states do, if anything. I completely understand the desire to do something because actions from Washington are having dramatic impacts on Virginia. I have been consistent in my position that when voters have the opportunity to decide an issue, they should be given that opportunity. So once again, I am in support of letting voters decide and when that occurs, I will have one vote like everyone else. I am hopeful that if voters feel we need to take action during these unprecedented times, they will also include a plan for the bipartisan commission to resume its role in the future.”
McNamara (R): “100% opposed.”
District 41: Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery County, vs. Democrat Lily Franklin
Franklin (D): No response.
Obenshain (R): “The Constitutional amendment establishing a bipartisan redistricting commission was overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2020. This initiative garnered support across the political spectrum, including Independents, Unaffiliated voters, Democrats, and Republicans, all of whom believed it would lead to better politics in Virginia.
“I voted for and supported that amendment. It has succeeded in delivering fairer districts than the old process that let politicians choose their constituents. I will oppose any effort to overturn the will of Virginia voters by eliminating the redistricting commission.
“It is clear that the voters have spoken on this issue, and the political gamesmanship being exerted is both wrong and unjust. Virginia has a history of leading, not following, when it comes to such matters.”
District 42: Del. Jason Ballard, R-Giles County, vs. Democrat Biko Agozino
Agozino (D): No response.
Ballard (R): “I oppose the Democrats’ efforts to undo the constitutional amendment that 4 million Virginians supported that enacted a non-partisan redistricting process for our state.”
District 43: Del. Will Morefield, R-Tazewell County vs. Democrat Mary Sumner
Sumner (D): “I would be in favor of the allowing the new Redistricting maps in time for the 2926 elections.”
Morefield (R): No response.
District 44: Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Washington County vs. Democrat Cindy Green
Green (D): No response.
O’Quinn (R): “Oppose amending the state constitution as well as the proposed process.”
District 46: Republican Mitchell Cornett vs. Democrat Jamie Hendry for an open seat
Hendry (D): No response.
Cornett (R): “I am strongly opposed. The voters of the Commonwealth overwhelmingly voted to allow a bipartisan commission for redistricting in 2020. This move would disenfranchise voters and would be bad for Virginia.”
District 48: Del. Eric Phillips, R-Henry County, vs. Democrat Melody Cartwright
Cartwright (D): “100% in agreement with the amendment. The reason why I am running today is due to the obvious gerrymandering perpetrated on our District 48 and why no other Democrat had the courage or will to step up. We used to be a Blue district prior to redistricting. Out went Delegate Ward Armstrong and Senator Roscoe Reynolds. If Texas can do it, so can Virginia. If states should be in power, then so be it! We must stand up and fight now, or never!”
Phillips (R): No response.
District 72: Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan County, vs. Democrat Randolph Critzer vs. Forward Party candidate Kristin Farry
Critzer (D): No response.
Ware (R): “Oppose, of course, owing to the implied repeal of the bipartisan redistricting commission.”
Farry (Forward): “I oppose this and all other state-level gerrymandering efforts across the nation that are stripping individual voters of their voice. I am equally opposed to gerrymandering efforts by both Democrats and Republicans. We the People of Virginia fought hard for Amendment 1, which reduced the gerrymandering just a few years ago, and I will oppose any effort to roll back this progress. We need to strengthen Amendment 1 to get more truly competitive districts, not throw this progress away.
“My party — the Forward Party — origins are in electoral reform movements to restore the power to the people. The U.S. Constitution entrusts states with running federal elections for very good reasons. We should not allow any federal officials to order Virginia to reduce our rights, whether we agree with the near-term outcome of that effort or not.”
District 73 Del. Mark Earley Jr., R-Chesterfield County, vs. Democrat Leslie Mehta
Mehta (D): No response.
Earley (R): “I oppose amending the state constitution to allow for new congressional district maps in time for the 2026 election. The voters of VA overwhelmingly approved a nonpartisan commission to handle redistricting — in my Chesterfield district, over 70% of people voted for this. The Democrat leadership is calling an unprecedented special session for the explicitly purpose of extreme gerrymandering. They’re also looking to take many of us off the campaign trail the last week before a huge election. I oppose gerrymandering and stand with the over 70% of my people that oppose gerrymandering.”
District 74: Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, vs. Democrat Jonas Eppert
Eppert (D): “Jonas is in favor of the amendment you asked about.”
Cherry (R): “Absolutely oppose.”
District 97: Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, vs. Republican Tim Anderson
Feggans (D): No response.
Anderson (R): “In light of next week’s special session, this entire redistricting push is political hypocrisy on full display. Democrats didn’t start demanding a special session until after their party’s redistricting PAC dropped $300,000 into Virginia races. That’s blatant quid pro quo politics while families of federal workers are struggling to pay bills during the Democrat-caused shutdown in Washington.
“These are the same Democrats who condemned Donald Trump and Republican legislatures for trying to manipulate maps in states like Texas and North Carolina. Nearly four million Virginians voted to create a bipartisan redistricting commission precisely to stop this kind of nonsense. Voters demanded fairness — not political revenge.
“I strongly oppose repealing the bipartisan redistricting process and redrawing congressional maps simply to satisfy a partisan power grab. Virginia deserves consistency, not a return to back-room machine politics.”
District 100: Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack County, vs. Democrat Liz Richardson
Richardson (D): No response.
Bloxom (R): “No the voters overwhelmingly told us that they didn’t want politicians picking their voters. I’m not sure how procedurally this can even be considered.”