The Democratic-led Virginia General Assembly has approved advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that could pave the way for redistricting in the state ahead of congressional midterm elections next year.

The state’s Democratic-led Senate passed a resolution Friday that would allow lawmakers to temporarily bypass a bipartisan redistricting commission and gerrymander their maps. The House had advanced it Wednesday.

For a redrawn map to be used by midterms, the resolution would need to pass the General Assembly again next year and subsequently gain voters’ approval by way of a referendum.

Through the constitutional amendment, Virginia’s legislature would have the power to create a new congressional map only when other states do so between now and 2030. Democrats have not unveiled

See Full Page