By Trendsetter Tribune 
RICHMOND, Va. — In a bold counter-maneuver to GOP redistricting efforts in other states, the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly passed a new congressional map on Friday, February 20, 2026. The map is designed to shift the state’s delegation from its current 6–5 Democratic edge to a dominant 10–1 advantage, potentially flipping four seats currently held by Republicans.
The move is a direct response to President Trump’s call for Republican-led states like Texas and North Carolina to redraw their boundaries mid-decade to protect the GOP’s slim House majority.
The “10–1” Strategy
The newly passed map strategically reconfigures district lines in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads area to bolster Democratic incumbents and put GOP-held seats within reach.
- Key Targets: The map targets seats currently held by Republican Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Ben Cline (VA-06), Morgan Griffith (VA-09), and Rob Wittman (VA-01).
- Candidate Surge: Anticipating the shift, high-profile Democrats are already launching bids. Former Congresswoman Elaine Luria is seeking a rematch against Kiggans, while “Dopesick” author Beth Macy and former Rep. Tom Perriello have launched campaigns in newly competitive western districts.
- Democratic Justification: Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell described the effort as “leveling the playing field” against what he called the President’s attempt to “rig the system” via mid-decade redistricting in the South.
The Judicial Roadblock
Despite the legislature’s approval, the map faces an immediate and severe legal threat. Just hours before the vote, Judge Jack Hurley Jr. of the Tazewell Circuit Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
| Legal Status | Impact |
| Referendum Blocked | The judge effectively halted an April 21 voter referendum that is constitutionally required to enact the new maps. |
| Timing Issues | The judge ruled that Democrats illegally expedited the process, violating a requirement that amendments be submitted to voters no sooner than 90 days after passage. |
| Supreme Court Appeal | Attorney General Jay Jones has vowed to appeal the TRO. While the Virginia Supreme Court previously allowed the referendum to proceed, this new order creates a “statistical blackout” for early voting, which was slated to start March 6. |
Political Fallout: “Commandearing the State”
Republicans have slammed the map as a “Northern Virginia power grab.” House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore argued the plan allows liberal strongholds in Arlington and Fairfax to “commandeer” the representation of rural Southwest Virginia.
The GOP legal challenge, joined by Reps. Cline and Griffith, accuses Democrats of ignoring their own state constitution to “partisanly rig” the 2026 midterms.
National Context: The Redistricting Arms Race
The battle in Virginia is just one theater in a nationwide redistricting war:
- GOP Gains: Republicans anticipate gaining up to 9 seats through redraws in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
- Democratic Counters: Democrats hope to offset those losses with 6 seats in California and Utah, plus the 4 targeted seats in Virginia.