Virginia Democrats Plan Special Session to Redraw U.S. House Districts Ahead of Midterms

Virginia Democrats have called a special legislative session aimed at redrawing the state's U.S. House districts to gain additional seats and counteract Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states, aligning with a broader national battle over congressional maps. The session, convened by House Speaker Don Scott, comes just before the November elections and seeks to capitalize on narrow Democratic majorities in the state legislature to potentially add at least two Democratic-leaning seats. While some Democrats see this as a critical move to secure fair representation and challenge President Donald Trump's push for partisan gerrymandering, Republicans argue the effort is constitutionally too late and accuse Democrats of political manipulation. This move follows similar redistricting initiatives in states like California, Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana, where parties attempt to tilt districts in their favor ahead of the 2026 midterms. The process may require constitutional amendments and faces logistical and political hurdles, including potential legal challenges. The effort reflects deep partisan divisions over electoral maps and the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Democrats aim to flip control by gaining just three more seats.