Virginia Democrats release long-awaited 10–1 congressional map

https://virginiamercury.com/2026/02/05/virginia-democrats-release-long-awaited-10-1-congressional-map/

Proposal, delayed past Jan. 30 target, goes further than the 9–2 approach Gov. Abigail Spanberger has supported as lawmakers press ahead despite court fight.

After weeks of buildup and a missed self-imposed Jan. 30 deadline, Virginia Democrats on Thursday evening finally released their long-awaited revised congressional map, proposing an aggressive 10–1 configuration that would tilt 10 of the state’s 11 U.S. House districts toward their party.

Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, argued the proposal is necessary to counter what Democrats describe as a coordinated national strategy driven by Donald Trump.

“Look, Donald Trump knows he’s going to lose the midterms. He knows it,” Lucas said Thursday. “That’s why he started this mess in the first place. … These are not ordinary times and Virginia will not sit on the sidelines while it happens.”

135 points · 16 comments · view on lemmy.world

16 Comments

KoboldCoterie@pawb.social · 33 pts · 215d (11 replies)

Well, I guess we've reached the "Disenfranchise every voter who is the minority in their state" stage; that's neat, I guess.

Obviously 'they started it'; it's necessary, but everyone should be upset about this.

GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world · 63 pts · 215d (4 replies)

I am, and eagerly await disallowing gerrymandering at all levels. Until then, fight fire with fire.

BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 215d (3 replies)

These new maps should come with a proposition for a new interstate compact.

TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 3 pts · 215d (2 replies)

I don’t even think we need a new one. We just need a few more states to sign onto NaPoVoInterCo.

BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 215d (1 reply)

That compact doesn't address gerrymandering.

TheRealKuni@piefed.social · 2 pts · 215d

Ah I see what you’re saying.

gustofwind@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 215d (3 replies)

Nobody should be upset about this until we have a national anti gerrymandering law

Feeling bad about this until then is basically not understanding the actual moral and legal situation of leaving such an issue up to the states

Edit: id even say it’s fair to blame democrats for not geerymandering first and harder when republicans exist and do what they do

Armok_the_bunny@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 215d (2 replies)

I don't think it's fair to blame Democrats for not doing this 15 years ago, at least back then the Republicans were still pretending to follow the rules overall.

gustofwind@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 215d (1 reply)

From now to 15 years ago when do you think their responsibility begins?

Trump 1 started now 9 years ago

Armok_the_bunny@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 215d

Honestly I'm not sure, maybe halfway through Trump 1. Definitely before Trump's third supreme court pick, but it's been long enough now (and I was sheltered enough) that I can't actually remember how bad the early years of his first presidency was. Definitely not as bad as this last year though.

kurmudgeon@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 215d (1 reply)

Republicans started this mess. It's about time Democrats start fighting fire with fire and stop putting up with their bullshit. Do I agree with this? Gerrymandering should be outlawed. But you can't neglect a useful, effective tool used by your enemy.

Royal_Bitch_Pudding@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 215d

They gotta do like Thanos and use the stones to destroy the stones.

Zedstrian@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 15 pts · 215d (1 reply)

Left-leaning states engaging in gerrymandering is nothing to the onslaught of voter suppression legislation enacted in right-leaning states, in addition to their own gerrymandering efforts.

Unless those on the right are willing to support national legislation banning it everywhere, while also ensuring widespread ballot access, any complaints to these measures are pure hypocrisy.

gustofwind@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 215d

I’m fairly certain the demand for purity is almost entirely just unknowingly repeated propaganda points

People seem to have a difficult time understanding how to fight a tragedy of the commons

tootoughtoremember@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 215d

Thanks, I hate it.

notsure@fedia.io · 2 pts · 215d

When every human counts, not because of border, not because of claimed inheritance, not because of any physical feature.................and if wishes were horses.