Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries congratulated Virginia on a new referendum that passed on Tuesday night, allotting Democrats the opportunity for more House seats, while also issuing a direct threat to Florida Republicans over their potential plans to redraw maps in the Sunshine State.
Control of the House could hinge on a few seats, and Virginia’s shift arrives as Florida has scheduled a special legislative session on redistricting.
Newsweek reached out to Jeffries' office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Virginia voters approved a statewide referendum to enact a new congressional map that could net Democrats up to four additional U.S. House seats.
The Associated Press (AP) called the Virginia race with the "Yes" getting the simple majority, potentially putting Democrats closer to reclaiming the House in November.
Virginia Election Results
According to the AP, the referendum passed 51.5 percent to 48.6 percent with 97 percent of the votes in as of 11:03 p.m.
In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won the state 51.8 percent to President Donald Trump's 46.1 percent in the presidential election, CNN notes. Virginia Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger won the state last year with 57.4 percent of the vote compared to former Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears' 42.4 percent, NBC News reported.
What To Know
Reacting to the news, Jeffries released a statement, according to PunchBowl News founder Jake Sherman on X, saying in part, "If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime pick-up opportunities for Democrats, just as they did with Trump’s dummymander in Texas. We will aggressively target for defeat Mario Díaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, Kat Cammack, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills and Brian Mast. We are prepared to take them all on, and we are prepared to win." Jeffries added, "Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”
Jeffries also posted to X, saying, "Democrats defeated Donald Trump’s gerrymandering scheme in Virginia tonight. We will crush the DeSantis Dummymander in Florida next. Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time."
In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session to consider legislation on redistricting beginning April 28, setting up the next front in the fight, according to his proclamation.
DNC Chair Ken Martin released a statement to Newsweek following the referendum passing, saying, "Tonight, Virginians refused to let Trump play games with Americans’ right to fair representation. Voters are turning out in droves to put an end to Trump’s billionaire-first agenda and Republicans see the writing on the wall. Thanks to Virginians, Leader Jeffries, Governor Spanberger, and Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly, Republicans can’t cheat their way out of accountability in 2026. The DNC was proud to support the Commonwealth in this fight, and we will keep working every day to protect our elections and elect Democrats who will fight for working families.”
What Happens Next
Virginia’s new map is set to govern elections through 2030 before authority reverts to the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission, The New York Times reports.