Virginia’s New Gerrymandered Map: How Bipartisan Reform Failed and Partisan Redistricting Won

In 2019, Virginia lawmakers from both parties made a historic bipartisan decision: for the first time, the state’s congressional map would be drawn by a commission including public members. The commission failed. With its members deadlocked, the Virginia Supreme Court intervened, appointing two individuals—dubbed "Special Masters"—to draft a new map ahead of the 2022 elections.

The resulting map, though imperfect, showed promise. It scored well on metrics like compactness and competitiveness, earning an "A" rating from Princeton University’s Gerrymandering Project. But that map is now obsolete. Virginia voters narrowly approved a new congressional map in a 2024 referendum, which will remain in place until after the 2030 elections.

Unlike the reform-backed previous map, the new one is a clear partisan gerrymander. Both supporters and opponents agree it will likely send 10 Democrats and just 1 Republican to Congress in 2025—a dramatic shift from the current 6-5 split. The change is particularly stark in a state that President Joe Biden won by less than 10 percentage points in 2020 and Vice President Kamala Harris carried by under 6 points in 2024.

The new districts are contorted to maximize Democratic influence, especially in northern Virginia. The 7th District, for example, stretches from the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., to the Richmond suburbs, then loops to Rockingham County on the West Virginia border—a shape critics liken to a "monstrous lobster." Source: Twitter

Gerrymandering is often judged by metrics like the Polsby-Popper method, but the issue remains subjective. Even without complex calculations, the bias in Virginia’s new map is undeniable. It’s a textbook example of partisan redistricting.

Four Key Takeaways from Virginia’s Redistricting Vote

• Republicans initiated this fight—and can’t claim victimhood. Virginia conservatives are rightfully outraged by the new map’s design and the potential loss of multiple congressional seats. Many live in northern Virginia, amplifying their frustration. Yet this outrage rings hollow given the GOP’s own history of aggressive gerrymandering. Under pressure from former President Donald Trump, Republicans redrew maps in states like North Carolina and Texas to create more winnable districts for their party.
• The reform commission’s failure set the stage for partisan control. The bipartisan commission’s collapse left the courts—and ultimately, partisan legislators—to decide the map. The result? A system that prioritizes political power over fairness.
• Virginia’s new map is a stark departure from reform principles. The previous map, though flawed, was designed to reduce partisan influence. The new one does the opposite, packing and cracking districts to favor one party.
• This could reshape Virginia’s political landscape for a decade. With the new map locked in until 2030, the 2025 elections will test its impact. Will the partisan tilt hold, or will legal challenges or demographic shifts alter the balance?