Virginia lawmakers are gathering in Richmond this week for a session that could reshape the state’s political map before the 2026 midterm elections. The move reflects a broader national scramble over control of the House of Representatives, where the current majority is very narrow.

As reported by The New York Times, the legislature is expected to consider the first step toward a constitutional amendment that would allow redistricting ahead of the next census. Democrats control the General Assembly and are weighing whether to advance a process that could shift as many as three of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats, a move seen as a direct response to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting.

In Virginia, altering the map requires an amendment to the state constitution. By law, an amendment must pass in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly with an election in between, then proceed to a public referendum no sooner than 90 days after legislative approval. The current chamber could vote this week, then vote again after newly elected delegates are seated in January. A statewide referendum could follow in mid-April, ahead of June primaries.

All seats in the House of Delegates are currently on the ballot. While Democrats are favored to keep control, the added maneuvering in Richmond could introduce some uncertainty. The immediate procedural opening exists because of a special session that Governor Glenn Youngkin called in May 2024 to address the budget was never formally adjourned. Lawmakers are reconvening under that standing session. Democratic leaders have not stated publicly that redistricting is the purpose, but the intent is widely assumed.

The outcome could alter Virginia’s delegation and add to a broader national reshuffling already underway. Several states have taken the rare step of redrawing maps mid-decade, sparking lawsuits and political backlash. According to Reuters, Texas led the charge by approving a map aimed at flipping five Democratic-held seats, prompting civil rights groups to sue over claims that the new lines weaken Black and Latino voting power. Republican-led efforts in Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio soon followed, while California and other Democratic states began exploring their own redistricting plans in response. The nationwide maneuvering underscores how fragile the balance of power in Congress has become, with both parties racing to secure even the smallest advantage.

Legal challenges are piling up, election officials are struggling to keep pace with rapid changes, and voters in several states could face entirely new districts just four years after the last maps were drawn.