Virginia voters dealt Donald Trump another setback Tuesday by approving new congressional maps that could flip four seats to Democrats in November's midterm elections. The result has House Democrats warning Ron DeSantis against retaliating with his own boundary changes in Florida.
The maps redraw Virginia's districts to favor Democrats in 10 of the state's 11 seats, up from their current hold of six. Republicans presently control five. The shift reflects a deliberate effort by newly elected Democratic governor Abigail Spanberger to reclaim territory lost to GOP gerrymandering in earlier cycles.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, framed the vote as a direct message to the Republican governor of Florida. "If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime-pick up opportunities for Democrats," Jeffries said in a statement. "We are prepared to take them all on, and we are prepared to win."
DeSantis has already summoned Florida's legislature for a special session next month to consider what he's calling boundary adjustments. Republicans believe the changes could yield as many as three additional seats depending on how lawmakers draw the lines.
The Virginia outcome caps a chain of tit-for-tat redistricting moves that began when Trump pressured Texas lawmakers to redraw that state's maps to eliminate up to five Democratic House seats. California voters responded with their own referendum that flipped five GOP-held districts. Virginia's move completes the cycle.
The race turned on how rural and suburban voters perceived the new maps. Polls showed rural Virginians angry over being represented by lawmakers based in the state's northern suburbs outside Washington. Republicans spent heavily attacking Spanberger's record as governor, accusing her of abandoning moderate credentials for liberal positions once in office.
Spending reflected the stakes. Democratic-aligned groups poured over $64 million into the referendum campaign. Opposition groups spent roughly $30 million fighting the new maps. Barack Obama recorded television ads supporting the yes vote, while DeSantis's predecessor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, campaigned against it.
Obama took to social media Tuesday night to celebrate. "Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven't done it yet," he posted. "Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back."
Author James Rodriguez: "Virginia just proved Democrats can win at redistricting in the court of public opinion, not just in actual courts, and that's exactly the kind of momentum the party needs heading into fall."
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