RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Democrats have initiated the process of redrawing the state’s congressional districts.

On Monday, the House of Delegates voted to expand the agenda of the ongoing special session, paving the way for discussions on redistricting.

Democrats, facing criticism from Republicans, justify their actions by citing nationwide gerrymandering efforts led by Republicans, which they claim necessitates a revision of Virginia’s district maps before the 2026 midterm elections.

“The attack on our democracy has already begun,” remarked Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News), the chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, during a press briefing.

Del. Lee Ware (R-Powhatan) countered, “Just because a misguided idea has been proposed and adopted by a few states, like North Carolina or California, does not mean Virginia should do the same.”

Virginia currently employs a bipartisan commission to redraw congressional districts every decade following the census. Republicans argue that Democrats are attempting to dismantle this commission, which they believe contradicts the wishes of Virginia voters who established it through a constitutional amendment in 2020.

“Think about this, they want to go away from a bipartisan redistricting commission, and they want to put in place of that a small handful of Democrat elected officials in a dark room somewhere to make decisions about the future districts here in Virginia,” Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) told reporters. 

For their part, Democrats haven’t released the actual language of the proposed amendment yet. However, Del. Rodney Willett (D-Henrico) says he’ll introduce it on Wednesday, and it won’t get rid of the bipartisan commission altogether. 

“The commission continues on, there’s a decennial process for that, so we will absolutely stick to that, that’s what’s in the constitution. This is to create again, not a mandate, but an option in the interim, in between the decennial redistricting to do something when there’s an extraordinary circumstance,” Willett said.

The General Assembly would have to pass any proposed constitutional amendment before Election Day this year, and again next year before it could be considered by voters.

As for what’s next during the special session, the Senate needs to change the rules to take up redistricting, something expected to happen by Wednesday.