Senator Mark Peake recounted recent discussions where a senator from eastern Fairfax indicated plans to ‘redo the House,’ a move he interprets as targeting the House of Delegates, the state Senate, and even congressional districts. ‘One of the senators said, and we’re going to do you guys next,’ Peake quoted, emphasizing that Democrats aim to scrap the constitutional amendment establishing independent redistricting commissions, which Virginia voters approved overwhelmingly in 2020.

Those commissions were created to end the partisan map-drawing that plagued Virginia politics for decades. In the 2010s, both parties drew convoluted districts to protect incumbents and maximize seats, leading to public outcry and reform efforts. Voters in 2020 endorsed amendments shifting control to independent panels comprising citizens, academics, and retired judges, selected nonpartisanly.

Now, with Democrats holding supermajorities in both chambers and Governor Abigail Spanberger in office, House Democrats rammed through a constitutional amendment on the first day of the 2026 session to revert control to the General Assembly. Critics, including U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, blasted it as a scheme to flip Virginia’s congressional delegation from its current near-even split to a lopsided 10 Democrats to 1 Republican.

Peake didn’t mince words: ‘You’re going to redo the House of Delegates, you’re going to redo the state senate… We know exactly what you’re going to do. This is a horrible idea.’ He accused Democrats of trying to ‘do away with bipartisan redistricting’ and resume gerrymandering, potentially packing Republicans into a single district while carving up conservative strongholds like Loudoun County.

The amendment now heads to the state Senate, where Democrats hold a 21-19 edge. If passed there, it would go to voters in November 2026 as a referendum. Republicans are vowing to fight it at every step, calling on Virginians to reject what they term a ‘pig in a poke’ – a deceptive scheme hiding radical intent.

This battle underscores broader national fights over redistricting post-2020 census. In states like Ohio and Michigan, voters imposed independent commissions; Virginia Democrats now seek reversal. With the U.S. House majority hanging in the balance, eyes are on Richmond.

Peake urged citizens of the Commonwealth to wake up: ‘Don’t kid us… y’all are trying to sell the citizens a pig in a poke.’ As the session unfolds, the clash could define Virginia’s political future.

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