Sturtevant, representing a district that would be severely impacted by the proposed maps, accused Democrats of selling Virginians ‘a bill of goods.’ He detailed how the process began with a special session ostensibly about the budget but stretched over nearly two years to push through an unlawful constitutional amendment. ‘The governor wanted a map that would hand her party 10 of Virginia’s 11 seats in Congress,’ Sturtevant declared, pointing to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s role in advancing the partisan redraw.
The 2021 maps, drawn apolitically by the Virginia Supreme Court following a 2020 voter-approved amendment for an independent commission, reflected Virginia’s closely divided political reality with a balanced split closer to 7-4 in Democrats’ favor. Those maps respected the commonwealth’s diverse electorate. But Democrats, controlling the General Assembly, sought to dismantle that fairness through mid-decade redistricting, a move critics label as pure power consolidation.
Sturtevant’s speech laid bare the rigging: no intervening general election between the amendment’s first and second legislative passages as required by the constitution; failure to publish notice months before the election; and misleading ballot language wrapped in the guise of ‘fairness.’ A trial court ruled the process void from the start, the ballot language deceptive, and issued an injunction blocking certification of the results. Despite this, out-of-state dark money and activist groups barely pushed the measure over the finish line with 51.5 percent approval on April 22 preliminary results.
‘This whole process was rigged from the start,’ Sturtevant emphasized, urging the Virginia Supreme Court to enforce the rule of law. ‘A close vote is not a green light to give one party 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats.’ Republicans turned out in force against the amendment, nearly derailing it, proving Virginians recognize the threat to representative democracy.
The stakes could not be higher. If upheld, the new maps would silence nearly half the commonwealth, reducing Republican-leaning areas to token voices in Congress. This isn’t governance by consent; it’s rule by Democratic majority fiat. Sturtevant warned that allowing such shortcuts teaches future majorities they can mislead voters and ignore safeguards with impunity.
Governor Spanberger’s administration jammed the amendment through despite legal red flags, relying on D.C. influence and special interests. Republicans in the Senate, led by voices like Sturtevant, stood as the last line of defense for constitutional integrity. The Supreme Court, known for its strict adherence to the text, now holds the key. Enforcing the constitution would restore balance, protect minority rights, and reaffirm Virginia as a purple battleground, not a one-party fiefdom.
This saga underscores broader national concerns over gerrymandering hypocrisy. Democrats decried Republican maps for years, yet here they pursue an extreme 10-1 advantage in a state Kamala Harris won by just 5 points in 2024. The narrow voter margin – 51.5 to 48.5 percent – reflects widespread skepticism, fueled by Republican grassroots opposition.
As the appeal heads to oral arguments, all eyes are on the justices. Will they prioritize partisan gain or constitutional fidelity? Sturtevant’s call echoes across Virginia: the rule of law must prevail over rigged schemes. Virginians deserve representation that mirrors their divided polity, not a Democratic supermajority engineered through deceit.
Source: Field reports and eyewitness accounts.
