RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers convened in the Capitol Monday for the start of an effort that opens the door to redistricting the state’s congressional seats.

Virginia Democrats are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to begin the process for redistricting. If they’re successful, congressional maps could be redrawn so that Democrats pick up more seats.

Virginia’s potential redistricting mirrors similar efforts in other states: Earlier this year, President Donald Trump urged Republican-led legislatures to redistrict in favor of Republicans with the intent of winning more seats in the 2026 midterms. Texas and Missouri have approved new districts. A Democrat-led redistricting measure is on the ballot in California. Other states such as Indiana and Utah are considering doing the same.

Before the General Assembly gaveled in for a special session Monday afternoon, the Virginia Republican Congressional delegation met at the state Capitol to push back on what they said is a threat to their seats. But they deflected on questions about whether they supported redistricting initiatives to favor Republicans elsewhere.

“It seems like the partisan games have now trickled down here to Richmond, and that brings us all together in this room to stand against this redistricting proposal that the Democrats have put forward to target districts like ours, like mine, that we flipped two cycles ago,” said U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who has represented the 2nd Congressional District since 2023.

She said the 2nd District, which includes Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, would always be competitive, and that the independent commission was the fair way of going about setting districts.

“Virginia is not Texas, Virginia is not North Carolina, Virginia is not California, Virginia is not Massachusetts,” she said. “We do things differently here.”

“To try to say, well, ‘if they did it in Texas, does that mean it was wrong?’ — they have a different constitution,” said U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, who represents parts of southwest Virginia. “This is about the Virginia Constitution and following the will of the people when they changed the Virginia Constitution to take it out of the hands of a handful of legislators and put it into a more non-partisan setting.”

Virginia has six Democrats and five Republicans currently representing the commonwealth in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Members of the General Assembly met in Richmond Monday to begin the process to propose a redistricting commission. The first day was devoted to changing the rules to amend the scope of what the current special session would cover. Democrats, who have a majority in both chambers of the legislature, voted in the House Monday to pass a resolution that allows the General Assembly to take up a “joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia related to reapportionment or redistricting.”

Del. Rodney Willet, D-Henrico, said he will carry the House version of a resolution that will allow for mid-decade redistricting in the event of extraordinary circumstances. He said the resolution would not get rid of the bipartisan commission that by constitution creates congressional district maps every 10 years following the U.S. Census, and that it would not attempt to address Virginia legislative districts.

The legislature is constitutionally bound to meet beginning in January. But, when legislators were called into a special session in 2024 to hash out the budget, that session never officially adjourned. When members of the General Assembly gaveled in Monday, it was for the reconvened 2024 special session. In addition to redistricting, the House resolution indicates lawmakers could also take up issues including reductions to the federal workforce.

Virginia amended its constitution in 2020 to form a bipartisan redistricting commission, but that commission was ultimately unable to overcome partisan fighting to come up with a map. The Virginia Supreme Court eventually redrew the congressional districts to their current iterations.

In Virginia, redistricting is done through constitutional amendment, which must pass through the legislature twice with a House of Delegates election in between. If Democrats are successful at passing a redistricting resolution now, before next week’s election, they’ll try to pass it for a second time in January when the General Assembly convenes for the 2026 legislative session.

Republicans argue the attempt at redistricting is illegal, saying because early voting is underway, the 2025 election is already ongoing and that proposed Constitutional amendments have to be posted in local courthouses three months before a general election. Democrats say that section of code predates the 1971 Constitution.

They also say the reconvened special session is intentionally pulling incumbent Republicans off the campaign trail. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor, presides over the state Senate when the body is in session.

“I have left the campaign trail because it is my duty to be here,” Earle-Sears said, speaking on the steps of the Capitol Monday afternoon. “In this building with the people’s Senate, I gave my word to fight for Virginians to defend their rights in their honor. And that is exactly what I’m doing.”

The House adjourned Monday and will meet again Wednesday. The Senate is expected to meet again Tuesday.

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