Prominent Pastor Jonathan Falwell Urges Virginians to Vote Against Redistricting Measure

Opponents of Virginia’s controversial redistricting referendum received significant backing when Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell and a prominent religious leader in his own right, spoke out against the measure just days before Tuesday’s vote.

Falwell, who serves as chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg and pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, addressed his congregation on the moral implications of the ballot initiative, marking a rare direct political stance from his pulpit.

“Tuesday is an election day here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It shouldn’t be, but it is,” Falwell told congregants in remarks later shared by Virginia Delegate Wendell Walker, a Republican from Lynchburg. “There’s no body on the ballot. There are no individuals running for any office. It is simply a decision that was made by some people in Richmond to subvert the common way and the right way to do things.”

The referendum has generated intense debate across Virginia, with supporters claiming it would “restore fairness” in congressional representation. Falwell, however, characterized the initiative as an attempt to dramatically alter the state’s political landscape, potentially shifting Virginia’s congressional makeup from its current 6-5 partisan split to what he described as “10 leaning to the liberal side and one leaning to the conservative side.”

“I don’t quite think the Restore Fairness is exactly what they’re trying to do,” Falwell said. “I think what they are trying to do is to completely take over.”

The redistricting measure has attracted national attention, with former President Barack Obama recently urging Virginians to vote “yes” on the referendum. Critics of the proposal argue it represents a partisan gerrymandering effort that could potentially give Democrats additional congressional seats.

Campaign finance reports reveal substantial funding behind the initiative, with progressive organizations contributing significant resources to support the “yes” campaign. Opponents worry this could fundamentally reshape Virginia’s political representation in Washington.

Falwell emphasized that while he has consistently avoided endorsing specific candidates throughout his ministry, preferring instead to encourage congregants to “vote your values,” this particular ballot measure warranted direct guidance.

“Today, I’m going to do the exact same thing, but it’s a little bit different,” Falwell explained. “Today I know that if you hold Biblical values, if you believe in the sanctity of life, if you believe in the right of having this idea that there is man and woman period… there is only one way to vote on Tuesday and that is to vote no.”

The pastor acknowledged his stance might generate criticism but remained resolute. “I don’t care,” Falwell said. “We cannot allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to be taken over by a simple group of people who just simply believe that their way is the only way.”

His comments did indeed prompt some backlash, with at least one critic suggesting that “if pastors like Jonathan Falwell want to start telling people how to vote from the pulpit, then megachurches like Thomas Road Baptist Church should start paying taxes.”

Falwell’s intervention carries significant weight in Virginia’s religious conservative circles. He succeeded his father as senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in 2007 following the elder Falwell’s death and became chancellor of Liberty University in 2023. His father was a towering figure in the conservative evangelical movement, having founded the influential “Moral Majority” organization during the Reagan era.

The redistricting vote represents a critical moment in Virginia’s political landscape, with potential implications for congressional representation that could extend well beyond the state’s borders. As Virginians head to the polls Tuesday, Falwell’s voice adds another influential perspective to an already contentious debate about political representation, fairness, and the democratic process in the Commonwealth.