Democrats are celebrating an election win in Virginia that could put them slightly ahead in the national redistricting competition that President Donald Trump triggered in an attempt to preserve his party’s House majority in this year’s midterms. But Tuesday's vote won’t be the final round. The new Virginia maps face a court challenge and could be tossed. Meanwhile, Florida Republicans are poised to begin a special session on redistricting and could give the GOP more seats in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in a case that could lead to more Republican seats by eliminating districts drawn to elect minorities.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks about Virginia's redistricting vote, at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, looks on as House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., speaks about Virginia's redistricting vote, at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Virginia voters approved a congressional redistricting plan that could help Democrats win up to four additional U.S. House seats in this year's midterm elections. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks about Virginia's redistricting vote as Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., right, looks on, at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Virginia voters approved a congressional redistricting plan that could help Democrats win up to four additional U.S. House seats in this year's midterm elections.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
The Associated Press has called Virginia’s constitutional amendment on redistricting in favor of passage at 8:49 p.m. Tuesday, with voters narrowly approving a change to how the state draws its legislative and congressional districts.
Voters on Virginia’s Eastern Shore turned out Tuesday for a statewide referendum that asked a question with major political consequences: shou…
Signs are seen outside Fairfax Government Center during the Virginia redistricting referendum, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Virginia voters will consider a ballot measure Tuesday that would give the Democratic-majority legislature temporary power to redraw the state’s congressional districts. It’s the latest move in an escalating redistricting battle that began in July 2025, when Texas Republican lawmakers redrew their state’s congressional map to favor Republicans at President Donald Trump’s urging. Democrats could net four additional seats if the measure passes. The authority to draw congressional maps would revert to the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission after the 2030 census.
Campaign direct mail advertisements about a Virginia special election on redistricting are on display in Arlington, Va., on April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon)
The timeline is tightening as some states attempt to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of the November midterm elections. Maryland's Democratic effort to reshape districts ended with the legislative session this week. Meanwhile, Florida lawmakers are starting a special session Monday for a Republican redistricting attempt. And Virginia voters are deciding Tuesday on a Democratic plan that could help the party gain House seats. Redistricting usually happens once a decade, but President Donald Trump sparked a mid-decade redistricting battle last year while calling on Texas Republicans to redraw their districts for partisan advantage. California Democrats reciprocated, and other states soon followed.