Cardinal News has published a comprehensive roundup of responses from Virginia House of Delegates candidates regarding a proposed constitutional amendment. This amendment would allow for congressional redistricting before the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats in Virginia held a special session in Richmond during the week of October 27, 2025, to discuss amending the state constitution. The aim is to enable lawmakers to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. For any amendment to take effect, it must pass in two successive sessions and subsequently receive voter approval on the ballot. The urgency stems from the tight timeline, as congressional primaries are set for mid-June 2026. Republicans have criticized this move, arguing that it overturns a voter-approved commission and constitutes partisan gerrymandering. In contrast, Democrats justify it as a necessary response to Republican-led map changes in other states.
According to Cardinal News, all 100 members of the House of Delegates were contacted for their positions on the amendment, along with their opponents where applicable. The report indicates that no Democratic incumbents responded; however, several Democratic challengers expressed support for the amendment. Among Republicans who replied, all opposed the effort. The publication provides district-by-district replies and notes that if a district is not mentioned, neither the incumbent nor challenger responded.
Virginia voters had previously approved the 2020 Redistricting Commission Amendment (Question 1) with significant support—65.69% voted “yes.” This transferred map-drawing responsibilities to a bipartisan commission with court intervention as a backup if an impasse occurs. These figures form part of the GOP’s argument against mid-decade legislative redistricting, suggesting it would counteract voters’ intentions.
Cardinal News is an independent digital newsroom based in Virginia and founded in 2021 by Luanne Rife and Dwayne Yancey among others. It focuses on Southwest and Southside Virginia but has statewide reach, providing original reporting without a paywall through Cardinal Productions Inc., a nonprofit organization.
