A disagreement between Democrats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates has upended plans to redraw the state’s congressional map.
Democrats in both chambers want a 10D-1R map, but they disagree on what that map looks like and blew past their self-imposed deadline last week to release a proposal.
Leaders from each chamber were supposed to resume negotiations on Monday, but the meeting was cancelled, according to sources close to the process. Some Democrats still hope a new map can be agreed on this week.
Virginia is critical for Democrats in the battle for control of the House this November. National Democrats hope to net a three-to-four seat gain via redistricting, but it’s a complicated process and time is of the essence. That’s why this dispute is so important both in Richmond and Washington.
What’s happening: At the heart of the dispute: Both sides feel the other is advancing maps to elevate members of their own chamber.
Leaders in the House of Delegates are in favor of using a map drawn by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. That map targets GOP Reps. Ben Cline, John McGuire, Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman, and creates a new district anchored in northern Virginia.
For some Senate Democrats, that last seat is a non-starter because they believe it is drawn to favor state Del. Dan Helmer, who has twice run for Congress and clashed with some in the legislature. Helmer is close, however, with state House Speaker Don Scott.
The state Senate’s proposal creates a second seat in Loudoun County and another in the Richmond area. Opponents of this map claim those seats are drawn to help two state senators, Lamont Bagby and Russet Perry, make the jump to Congress.
Another complicating factor: The state Senate’s map would likely loop two top Democratic recruits into one district — Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor and former Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.).
Virginia Senate leaders have communicated to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that they strongly dislike the NDRC proposal, per sources familiar with the conversations. And the Senate has a heavier lift to redistrict. Democrats have a very narrow majority and can’t lose any votes in the state Senate if they hope to pass a map.
Jeffries has been in contact with Scott during the redistricting process. And the NDRC has shown its map to members of the congressional delegation.
Plenty of Democrats are optimistic about finding a solution. The state House and state Senate are working toward a compromise 10D-1R map that satisfies both sides, per a source working to mediate between the two chambers.
