Virginia Special Election: Voters Decide on Redistricting Amendment That Could Reshape 2026 Midterms

Virginia held a special election on April 21 on a constitutional amendment question about off-cycle Congressional redistricting that could give Democrats up to four additional US House seats before the November 2026 midterms. Nearly 1.4 million early votes had already been cast before election day, reflecting intense national interest. Campaign spending on both sides approached $100 million, making it the most expensive Virginia ballot measure in state history. The measure would allow the Democrat-controlled state government to redraw congressional district lines outside the standard post-census cycle, countering Republican-drawn maps that have been in place since the 2020 redistricting. National Republicans argued the move was an unconstitutional power grab; Democrats framed it as correcting partisan gerrymandering. The outcome is seen as a bellwether for Democratic organizing capacity ahead of the November midterms.