Virginia’s redistricting effort was among the four constitutional amendments to clear the General Assembly on Friday, to close out the first week of the 2025 legislative session. Next stop for the amendments: voter referendum.
The state Senate passed the amendments on mostly party-line votes after they passed in the House of Delegates on Wednesday. They are slated to come before Virginia’s voters in a referendum later this year.
Those amendments are HJ 1, which would enshrine access to abortion in the constitution, passed 21-18; HJ 2, which would restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated people, passed 21-18; and HJ 3, which would protect same-sex marriage in Virginia, passed 26-13 with five Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues. Those five: Bill DeSteph of Virginia Beach, Danny Diggs of York County, Tara Durant of Fredericksburg, Emily Jordan of Isle of Wight County and David Suetterlein of Roanoke County.
The most controversial remains the newest of the group, however.
That amendment, HJ 4, would allow the General Assembly to conduct an unprecedented mid-decennial redraw of its congressional district map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. It passed the state Senate 21-18.
Democrats in the Virginia legislature have called the redistricting effort necessary, after Republican President Donald Trump called on conservative-led states to redistrict their congressional maps in favor of GOP candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Virginia Republicans have questioned the legality of the redistricting effort in the commonwealth and have filed lawsuits aimed at halting the process.
Voters can expect to see the first three amendments, HJ 1, HJ 2, and HJ 3, on the ballot in November. Redistricting, however, will be brought to Virginians in a special referendum likely in April, Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, said on Wednesday. Price is the chair of the House of Delegates’ Privileges and Elections Committee.
Virginia would see a modified schedule for its primary elections, normally slated for June, if voters approve the redistricting measure, and the Nov. 4 elections would take place as currently scheduled. New maps will be available by Jan. 30 for voters to see, Price said.
Some Democratic lawmakers have posted their intention to draw maps that would favor a 10 Democrat to 1 Republican congressional delegation. If that were to come to fruition, Reps. Rob Wittman of Westmoreland County, who represents the 1st District; Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach, who represents the 2nd District; John McGuire, of Goochland County, who represents the 5th District, and Ben Cline, of Botetourt County, who represents the 6th District, could be in danger of losing their seats. Both the 5th and 6th congressional districts are considered Republican strongholds as the maps are currently drawn.
A constitutional amendment must pass the General Assembly twice, with an intervening election between the two votes, before it goes to the voters in a referendum. Redistricting would need to be completed no later than 90 days before the Nov. 4 election.
Another bill will need to be passed to set up the election framework for the redistricting referendum, said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County. Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger will need to sign that legislation.