Virginia Redistricting Win Shows Democrats Fighting Back Against Trump’s Gerrymandering Tactics

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the April 23 episode of the Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.

After we recorded, a court blocked the new Virginia map, but that is likely temporary as it will be quickly appealed.

Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.

Donald Trump erupted in fury over the results of Tuesday’s referendum in Virginia. After Democrats narrowly passed a mid-decade redistricting plan there—which could mean four additional House seats—Trump labeled the result as rigged and urged courts to nullify it. Yet this comes as Republicans admit that this setback is Trump’s fault. This moment highlights a critical shift: Republican cheating becomes far more difficult when Democrats fight back with equally aggressive tactics.

Brian Beutler, editor of the Off Message Substack, has argued that Democrats must prepare for intense hardball strategies in the coming years. These tactics are essential to achieve post-Trump accountability and prevent future abuses. Today, we’re discussing this with Brian. Hey, Brian, good to have you on.

Brian Beutler: Good to be back.

Sargent: On Tuesday, Virginia voters narrowly approved this referendum by around three points to redraw the congressional map, allowing Democrats to add up to four more seats. This puts Democrats slightly ahead of Republicans in the redistricting arms race. They might secure one or two more seats than the GOP, though much depends on Florida’s next moves. Brian, what’s your reaction?

Beutler: It’s very promising that Democrats, when confronted with Trump’s order to Texas to further gerrymander, didn’t simply lament the unfairness or call for a return to norms. Instead, they embraced a 'race to the bottom' approach. This wasn’t a given—Democrats haven’t historically operated this way, especially in the first year of a second Trump term.

But I think they recognized it was a do-or-die moment. Trump made it clear he was using gerrymandering to steal power. If Democrats didn’t respond in kind, Republicans could have fought the midterms to a draw, retaining power without conceding anything. This would have helped cement an authoritarian autocracy. The stakes weren’t just about the midterms—they were about every future election. Even Viktor Orbán, after years of consolidating power in Hungary, just lost in a major upset.