Dear Friend,
I am writing to provide you with a bit of an update regarding the General Assembly’s ongoing special session. Specific information is quite scarce, but I will share with you what I know.
Legislators have been called back to the Capitol this week to discuss redistricting. This comes as a number of other states have passed or are considering mid-decade redistricting proposals. Redistricting typically is done immediately following the decennial census. I will also add that while special sessions are not uncommon, it is highly unusual for the legislature to meet the week before the election. Doing so underscores the partisan nature of this week’s debate.
No specific bill exists at this time. We are told that Delegate Rodney Willett (D-Henrico) will sponsor the redistricting legislation, but no details or language have been shared.
There are a few things that I am keeping in mind as I wait to review any proposed legislation. First, Virginians voted at the ballot box just five short years ago to effectively end partisan gerrymandering. Second, we must do what is best for Virginia and not base our decisions on what other states are or are not doing.
Let me expand on that first point. You will recall that in 2020, Virginia voters overwhelmingly adopted an amendment to the state constitution that effectively ended partisan gerrymandering in Virginia. In fact, every city and county in Virginia except one (Arlington County) voted to end partisan gerrymandering. The Redistricting Commission set up by the state constitution did a fair job at producing maps for both federal and state elections.
The House will reconvene at noon on Wednesday. Presumably, there will be legislative text to review at that time. I will continue to update you as more information becomes available. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them.
Sincerely,
Mike Cherry