Virginia says "yes."
The commonwealth approved a measure that would redraw the state's congressional map in a special election on Tuesday, April 21. The result means the state legislature will temporarily adopt a new map which is poised to benefit Democrats' national ambitions during a midterm election year. The move comes on the heels of other states' efforts to change their maps ahead of November races, such as Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and California.
The measure won by a narrow margin, according to Decision Desk HQ and NBC News, but it gives Virginia Democrats a runway to win a 10-to-1 House delegation. This would be a major boost to House Democrats given Republicans' slim majority in the chamber right now.
"It was a close one," John McGlennon, professor of government at the College of William & Mary, said in an email early Wednesday to USA TODAY.
But he says the results raise a question about what happens next: "Will the Democrats be able to translate the victory on paper into more Congressional seats to offset GOP gerrymanders in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina?"
