New Virginia map splits Richmond, weakens GOP districts
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After weeks of waiting, Virginia Democrats released a congressional map proposal that could deliver them all but one of the state's 11 House districts in this year's midterms.
Why it matters: They're using metro Richmond and Northern Virginia to do it.
The big picture: Under the existing maps, the Richmond area is almost entirely represented by two congressional districts — the 1st and 4th — while some parts of Hanover and Goochland are in the 5th.
- The new maps split metro Richmond into four blue-leaning districts (1st, 4th, 5th and 7th) and pair some of the more traditionally Republican parts of the city's suburbs with deep-blue parts of Northern Virginia.
- They also break up heavily Democratic Richmond, giving some of those voters to more conservative parts of the state.
- These moves are a major part of Dems' goal to reduce Republicans' share of Virginia's 11 House seats from five to just one.
Between the lines: That could mean trouble for current Republican Reps. Rob Wittman (1st) and John McGuire (5th) in the upcoming midterms, as their red-leaning districts would essentially no longer exist.
The other side: State Republicans have been quick to slam Democrats' plans, repeatedly calling it extreme, illegal and hyperpartisan.
Zoom in: Here are more details of the major proposed district changes for the Richmond region.
The city of Richmond gets split in half
- The Fan, Church Hill and most of South Richmond are still in the 4th while Scott's Addition, Brookland Park and the Museum District joins Western Henrico and the majority of Chesterfield in the 5th.
- For some South Richmonders, their district depends on what side of Forest Hill Avenue they fall on, starting from the intersection of Forest Hill and Westover Hills Boulevard toward Chippenham Parkway.
- Meanwhile: Stratford Hills, Huguenot and Stony Point are in the 5th. Petersburg and the airport are still in the 4th.
Parts of Western Henrico change district for the third time in five years
- Major portions of Western Henrico, which were in the 7th before being redistricted to the 1st in 2021, would now move to the 5th.
- That district would also include Richmond's Windsor Farms — which overlaps with the city's sole Republican-leaning precinct — and voters in more rural counties like Campbell about two hours away.
Chesterfield
- The county, which has increasingly leaned Democrat in recent years, would be split between the 4th and 5th districts (instead of the current 1st and 4th).
Hanover and Goochland pair up with NoVa
- Republican-leaning Hanover will remain split between the 1st and 5th districts but the redrawn 1st incorporates parts of Prince William County that are overwhelmingly Democratic.
- And the staunchly red Goochland and Powhatan counties would move from the 5th to the 7th, which goes up to heavily Democratic Arlington outside of D.C.
Catch up quick: Virginia Dems' aggressive mid-decade redistricting push began as a counter to Republican-led states that have already redrawn their congressional maps to add GOP seats.
- But those plans are facing ongoing legal hurdles.
- Just this week, a Virginia appeals court asked the state Supreme Court to take up the case trying to block Democrats' redistricting attempt.
- State Democrats also initially disagreed over the map, with infighting fueled by concerns that both chambers were backing versions that favored specific candidates, reported Virginia Scope and Punchbowl News.
What's next: If the redistricting efforts manages to overcome its legal challenges, Virginians will vote on whether to let lawmakers do a mid-decade redraw on April 21.