Democrat-Controlled Virginia Assembly Passes Redistricting Amendment

The proposal, which would allow Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional maps, will now go to voters in a referendum.

All of Virginia's Democratic state senators voted in favor of the redistricting amendment while all Republicans voted against. The same was true in the House of Delegates. Above, the Virginia General Assembly. Zach Gibson/Getty Images

The Virginia General Assembly on Jan. 16 passed an amendment to the state Constitution that would allow legislators to redraw district maps for congressional elections.

The state Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 21 yeas to 18 nays, with zero abstentions. All Democrats voted in favor while all the nay votes came from Republicans, with one senator not voting. The Virginia House of Delegates had passed the amendment two days earlier by a vote of 62 to 33, with similarly partisan margins.