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Virginia’s Former Attorney General Leads Fight Against Democratic Redistricting Effort
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has launched a pointed campaign against Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger, accusing her of misleading voters as he spearheads Republican opposition to a controversial redistricting referendum in the state.
“She told voters in August of 2025 that she had no plans, no intention to do redistricting. And then the very first bill that she signed into law was the enabling legislation for this monstrosity of gerrymandering to go forward,” Miyares told Fox News Digital, characterizing Spanberger as “the most unpopular governor in modern Virginia political history.”
Early voting is already underway for the April 21 referendum, which would transfer redistricting power from the current nonpartisan commission to the Democrat-controlled legislature through 2030. If approved, the measure could potentially reshape Virginia’s congressional map to give Democrats a 10-1 advantage in the state’s delegation, significantly expanding their current 6-5 edge.
Republicans have denounced the effort as an “unconstitutional power grab,” while Democrats argue it represents a necessary counterbalance to similar redistricting initiatives undertaken by Republicans in other states at the urging of former President Donald Trump.
The Virginia battle represents the latest front in a nationwide redistricting war that has intensified ahead of the midterm elections. In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott called a special legislative session to pass a new congressional map expected to yield five additional Republican-leaning districts. California responded with Proposition 50, which temporarily bypassed the state’s nonpartisan commission to allow the Democratic-dominated legislature to create an estimated five more Democratic-leaning districts.
Similar redistricting efforts have unfolded in Republican-controlled Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pursuing a special legislative session starting April 20 that could secure three to five additional GOP-leaning seats.
A recent Washington Post poll indicated that Spanberger, who won her gubernatorial race by a surprisingly comfortable 15-point margin, now faces approval ratings that are barely above water. The survey revealed the highest unfavorable rating for a new Virginia governor in two decades.
As co-chair of Virginians for Fair Maps, Miyares is leveraging Spanberger’s past statements against her. His group is running statewide advertisements featuring a 2019 quote where Spanberger wrote, “gerrymandering is detrimental to our democracy.” In a pointed social media post, Miyares referred to Spanberger as “Governor ‘Bait and Switch'” and declared, “Trust me, we will be putting your face on a bunch of mailers reminding voters how you lied & previously stated you wouldn’t gerrymander Virginia into oblivion and then promptly did the opposite.”
Spanberger has become one of the most visible advocates for the amendment alongside former President Barack Obama. In an advertisement funded by Democratic-aligned Virginians for Fair Elections, Spanberger defends the referendum as a temporary measure that “preserves Virginia’s fair redistricting process into the future” while responding to similar actions in other states.
“I supported the formation of Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting commission in 2020, and that support has not changed,” Spanberger stated last month.
Adding complexity to the nationwide redistricting landscape is an upcoming Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which could potentially overturn a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. A ruling favorable to conservatives might trigger the redrawing of numerous majority-minority districts across the country, likely benefiting Republicans. However, the timing and specific outcome of the Court’s decision remain uncertain.
As early voting continues in Virginia, the referendum represents a critical test case in the ongoing struggle between the parties for electoral advantage through redistricting—a battle that will significantly impact control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections and beyond.
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11 Comments
Accusations of political ‘bait and switch’ tactics are serious. I’ll be following this story closely to see how the governor’s actions and the proposed redistricting plan are received by Virginia voters.
This debate over redistricting highlights the partisan divisions in Virginia politics. I hope both sides can engage in constructive dialogue to find a solution that serves the best interests of all Virginians.
Redistricting can have significant political consequences, so it’s understandable that there is heated debate around this issue in Virginia. I hope the process remains transparent and fair.
This seems like a high-stakes battle over the future political landscape in Virginia. I’ll be following the developments closely to see how it all plays out.
Accusations of ‘bait and switch’ tactics are serious. I’ll be interested to see if the governor’s actions align with her previous statements to voters.
Gerrymandering is a complex and often controversial topic. I’m curious to learn more about the arguments from both Republicans and Democrats on this proposed redistricting plan in Virginia.
It will be important for voters to carefully evaluate the details and implications of this referendum before casting their ballots.
This is a contentious issue with political interests on both sides. I’ll be interested to see how the redistricting referendum turns out and the impact it has on Virginia’s congressional representation.
Redistricting is a complex and often contentious process. I hope Virginia’s voters can make an informed decision on this referendum based on the merits of the proposal.
The potential for a 10-1 Democratic advantage in Virginia’s congressional delegation is a significant shift. I’m curious to understand the rationale behind this proposed redistricting plan.
Regardless of party affiliation, I believe the redistricting process should be as transparent and nonpartisan as possible to ensure fair representation.