For an opposing point of view, see “Donald Trump is attempting to rig the 2026 Midterm. Virginia has a historic upportunity to push back,” by Rep. Don Beyer. For more information on the April 21 special election, see our Voter Guide. Got a question about redistricting? Let us know and we’ll try to get it answered.
It’s in the maps!
In 2020, Virginia voters overwhelmingly voted to take redistricting out of the hands of politicians.
Politicians like me! Politicians of all political parties and geographic regions. The voters wanted either a bipartisan process, or a nonpartisan process overseen and approved by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Were they right to do so in 2020?
Is that still the right decision?
The answer is in the maps!
Currently, the politicians in Richmond are attempting to change the Constitution back to the way it was before 2020. They say temporarily. But it is for a minimum of six years.
But, you have the ability and the power to make the decision on proposed redistricting.
You get to decide what is fair for Virginia!
To vote No or to vote Yes?
I think you should vote No.
Leaving the maps as they currently are. Exactly as they were approved by the Virginia Supreme Court.
But don’t listen to me!
Dont listen to any of the combatants in the high cost, high stakes contest being waged in all genre of media.
Just look at the maps!
You get to be the judge!
On April 21 you decide what is fair.
Here is the congressional district map drawn by bipartisan commissioners and approved by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Here is the map drawn by Richmond politicians in the back rooms of the legislature. (Been there, done that! It’s not pretty.)
Review these maps for compactness, communities of interest and yes, fairness for the people of Virginia. If you do so, laying aside whatever political philosophy you adhere to, and look only at fairness, you will be drawn to the fairness of Map number 1 and vote No in the referendum on April 21.
The Supreme Court approved maps have given us a congressional delegation that reflects the general political makeup of Virginia. Six seats held by Democrats and 5 seats held by Republicans.
The Richmond politicians created a congressional redistricting map with 10 districts being seats Democrats should win in most years and 1 district in which a Republican should win.
As David Poole, founder of Virginia Public Access Project and a committed nonpartisan analyst, stated in his February 5th article in Cardinal News said, “A 10-1 map would give Virginia the most aggressive gerrymander of any other state.”
Further, as you know, Democrats supporting a yes vote are heard to talk of fairness. But there is no fairness for Virginia. It is just bad governance. How do we know?
It’s in the maps!
They have claimed there is a national fairness in skewering the people of Virginia. But they deceive themselves if they truly believe this plan is fair to Virginians.
We have heard them say it may not be about fairness in Virginia but instead is fairness for the U.S. They point to Texas and cry Trump started it!
But if that was their concern, certainly California evened the score. Texas changed 5 toward Republicans, California changed 5 toward Democrats.
Additionally, if what Texas did was wrong and Virginia does the same, you must ask yourself, do two wrongs make it the right thing to do?
For example, if you have two children and one steals a candy bar from the 7-11 and has already eaten it, would you say to the other child, “Well, stealing is wrong, but just this once in order to have fairness in the family you may steal a candy bar too”!
Of course not!
But that is essentially the argument of those in the Democratic Party who argue for the yes vote!
Common sense tells you No is the correct choice.
It’s in the maps.
The maps tell the story.
I practiced law for many years in Virginia. And as a lawyer, I learned some tricks that apply to the arguments promoted by the pro yes vote people.
Lawyers know if you have the facts just argue the facts.
If the lawyer doesn’t have the facts, they have to argue the law.
And, if the lawyer doesn’t have the facts or the law, then they must make a lot of noise and argue about fairness. That fairness the lawyer is forced to argue about is anything that helps distract the judge (that would be you) from their lack of the facts and the law.
That is what the yes side is forced to do in the case of this referendum.
Why?
Because, it’s about the maps! The maps are the facts.
Those facts compel a No vote!
I also think the law as written before the legislature started trying to change it on Halloween 2025 compels a No vote!
That is why the yes backers are making a lot of noise, bringing in celebrity spokesmen, and arguing about fairness issues that have nothing to do with Virginia!
Don’t let all the noise distract you.
Review the facts. Examine the maps.
After all, it is about the maps!
Vote No!
Morgan Griffith represents Virginia’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a Republican.
