Virginia Republican criticizes proposed congressional redistricting

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:51:00 +0200

Representative Ben Cline, a Republican from Virginia, criticized the Democratic-backed effort to redraw the state's congressional districts, claiming it would diminish rural voter influence. In an interview with the Ruthless Podcast, Cline described the proposed map, which would split his western Virginia district into five new seats, as an attempt to shift political power toward Northern Virginia suburban areas. He argued that Democrats are following a broader national trend of using redistricting to favor their party, citing examples from Massachusetts and Illinois. The proposed changes come ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and a state referendum on approving a constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to redraw the map. Polls suggest the referendum is close, with only a small lead for supporters. Democrats argue that redistricting would create fairer representation, while Republicans warn it would gerrymander the state in favor of Democrats, potentially reducing the