The Virginia Redistricting commission has failed to reach an agreement on new maps for the State Senate and House of Delegates. On Friday, after the latest compromised failed, several Democrat members of the commission walked out of their meeting, including Democratic co-chair Greta Harris. Harris said, “I think our work is done and what a shame it is”. The deadline for new maps to be submitted is Sunday, October 10th. A meeting scheduled for today was canceled. So it appears the commission was unable to complete their job and will not be presenting new district maps to the General Assembly.
With the failure of the commission, redistricting will be decided by the Virginia Supreme Court which is conservative. The justices will not draw the maps themselves but will rely on maps designed by experts chosen from lists presented by both political parties. The end result is likely to favor Republicans because that’s how the court leans.
Yet another example of “be careful what you wish for”. It was democrats in the General Assembly who first pushed for a redistricting commission when Republicans were in control. Once the Democrats gained control in the GA, they changed their tune, but the ball was already rolling toward a law establishing a redistricting commission after the 2020 census.
