Virginia Democrats Convene Special Redistricting Session

Virginia Democrats convened a surprise special legislative session to begin redrawing the state’s 11 U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterms, saying the move is needed to counter recent Republican partisan maps and could flip two to three seats. The plan faces significant procedural hurdles under Virginia law — including passage in two separate sessions with a statewide election in between and eventual voter approval in a referendum — and is likely to prompt legal challenges. Republicans, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, have denounced the effort as a last‑minute or unconstitutional power grab and warned about the timing, which comes days before Virginia’s Nov. 4 gubernatorial election and has made redistricting a central campaign issue. Separately, voters in North Carolina have filed a legal challenge to GOP‑drawn maps for the 1st and 3rd districts, alleging the map dilutes Black voting power, while Republican leaders defend their maps; both fights reflect a broader nationwide redistricting battle after high‑profile GOP efforts in states like Texas. The outcome of these contests — shaped by state legislative control, off‑year races, courts, and voters — could affect which party controls U.S. House seats in 2026.