Boosted By Out-Of-State Dark Money, Virginia Passes Dems’ Deceptive Gerrymandering Scheme

 Recent developments in Virginia have raised concerns about a new constitutional amendment that could lead to significant changes in the state's congressional map. The amendment, backed by Democrats, has drawn attention due to the large amounts of out-of-state funding it received.

• A constitutional amendment in Virginia has passed that allows the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to redraw congressional maps.

• Preliminary results show the amendment passed by 2.8 points, with over 3 million ballots cast.

• The amendment could enable a shift from a current map of six Democrats and five Republicans to one with 10 Democrats and one Republican, potentially disenfranchising many rural voters.

• The campaign for the amendment was fueled by over $64 million, primarily from outside Virginia, including significant contributions from groups like House Majority Forward and the Fairness Project.

• In contrast, the opposition group, Virginians for Fair Maps, received substantially less funding, totaling around $21.8 million.

• The legality of the amendment and its implications may ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court of Virginia, as the court has postponed ruling on its lawfulness until after the referendum.

The passing of this amendment highlights the contentious issue of gerrymandering in Virginia, showing how external funding can influence local elections. The future of the newly drawn congressional maps now rests with the state's Supreme Court, raising questions about fairness and representation in the electoral process. 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/04/21/boosted-by-out-of-state-dark-money-virginia-passes-dems-deceptive-gerrymandering-scheme/