Cardinal News has released a comprehensive district-by-district analysis of Virginia House candidates’ responses to a proposed constitutional amendment that would permit congressional redistricting before the 2026 midterm elections.
Virginia’s General Assembly convened for a special session in late October 2025, as Democratic lawmakers explored the possibility of a constitutional amendment that would allow them to redraw congressional maps ahead of the upcoming midterms. Proponents argue that this accelerated timeline is necessary to meet legal and election deadlines. However, Republicans claim it would dismantle the voter-approved commission and lead to partisan gerrymandering. For any amendment to take effect, it must pass in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by voters statewide, creating a narrow timeframe before the 2026 primary filing and ballot-printing deadlines.
According to Cardinal News, they reached out to all 100 members of the House of Delegates and their 2025 opponents where applicable, seeking their positions on the amendment. Their findings revealed that no Democratic incumbents responded; several Democratic challengers expressed support; while Republican respondents unanimously opposed the measure. The roundup was updated on October 27 with information from districts 43 and 73, including direct quotes such as Delegate Chris Runion stating he was “adamantly opposed,” along with noting nonresponses by district.
In 2020, Virginia voters approved the Redistricting Commission Amendment (Question 1) with significant support—65.69% or 2,770,489 “yes” votes compared to 1,447,279 “no” votes. Republicans reference this margin as evidence that returning map-drawing responsibilities to the legislature contradicts a recent mandate for a bipartisan process with court intervention if necessary. Since constitutional changes also require voter ratification, proponents must secure another majority statewide—a challenging task given previous vote totals and limited time before candidate deadlines and ballot logistics for the 2026 cycle.
Cardinal News is an independent, nonprofit digital newsroom established in Virginia in 2021. Operated by a 501(c)(3) organization, it focuses on Southwest and Southside regions while covering statewide policy areas such as politics, education, economy, and health. The outlet publishes without a paywall and emphasizes explanatory reporting to address gaps left by declining traditional media outlets. Its leadership comprises experienced Virginia journalists who rely on reader donations, grants, and sponsorships for funding operations. Cardinal News positions itself as a regional public-service newsroom dedicated to accountability coverage.
