Virginia Democratic lawmakers on Friday took the first big step in a complicated maneuver to redraw the state's congressional map before next year's midterm elections.

The Virginia state Senate on Friday passed a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to draw new maps if another state does the same outside of the usual decennial cycle, unless it comes as result of a court order. The state House approved the measure on Wednesday.

Virginia Democrats need to bypass the bipartisan redistricting commission voters approved just five years ago to pursue a new map that would boost their party. To do so, the Legislature must pass the proposed constitutional amendment twice, with an election in between. Lawmakers took this first vote ahead of Tuesday's elections in Virginia, whe

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