One growing question following the election last month in Virginia is how the new Democrat majority will view gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of the electorate constituency boundaries for political benefit of one party over another.
Having secured the majority of the Virginia General Assembly and holding the Executive, the Virginia Democrats can dictate the state legislative agenda for the next two years until such time the House of Delegates and the Governorship are up for election again.
The next census is 2020 and it is this census that shall used to redraw the lines or boundaries for every district in Virginia. The Democrats will control this process. Many Democrats while in the minority supported efforts to review and reform redistricting. The question now remains whether now that the Democrats have the majority whether such calls for reform will be silenced.
Recently, the Supreme Court determined that the court has no jurisdiction over state redistricting. Last session the Assembly in Richmond passed a bipartisan redistricting reform amendment to the State Constitution. An amendment must be passed by two consecutive Assemblies before it can be consider for formal vote as an amendment by Virginians.
https://www.richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/general-assembly-approves-independent-redistricting-commission-despite-objections-from-black/article_b7c595db-503a-55d8-abb9-316c368ef9be.html
The question now becomes whether the Democrats will pass the amendment again in the upcoming sessions so that it may go to the voters. The concern in truth rests with many African American leaders in the Assembly who do not believe the current amendment proposal goes far enough to address the historic concerns they have had with regard to gerrymandering.
The fear some Progressives have in Northern Virginia is that inevitably the Virginia Supreme Court would have to intervene should the district maps come under dispute legally and Progressives have shown nothing but contempt for the state Supreme Court which they feel is hyper partisan in favor of Conservatives.
One important note regarding the amendment proposal passed in February 2019 is that it cannot e changed or altered in any way next session or the clock stops and must restarted requiring the next Assembly and the one in 2021 to support it before it may go to voters.
Most lawmakers and Virginians support a non partisan commission. The proposal is for sixteen members on the commission with eight lawmakers and eight citizens. If the Assembly passes the amendment proposal next session it will appear on the ballot next November. A date that has drawn some concern with lawmakers with 2020 being a Presidential cycle and the historical turnout in election cycles in Virginia when the Presidency is on the ballot. Many lawmakers would prefer 2021 when the Governorship is back on the ballot.
Republican had previously attempted to block maps drawn that benefited Democrats but the Supreme Court ruled that Republicans did not have legal grounds (rights) to challenge the maps in court that had initially be drawn but lower courts ruled were unconstitutional.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/17/politics/supreme-court-racial-virginia-gerrymandering-case/index.html
The Supreme Court ruling was 5-4. So much for the Progressive claims that the Republican nominated Justices somehow would be reshaping the country given both Justice Thomas and Gorsuch sided with the majority. No matter. Progressive still assert these Justices especially Gorsuch and Kavanaugh do not belong on the court.
There is no argument that this ruling by the Court laid the foundation for the Republican defeat in the Assembly last month. Many Virginians saw their districts redrawn preceding the elections of late. Progressives already appear split with the other Democrats.
Progressive Delegate Mark Levine attempting to throw wrench in the amendment approval process stated
I will be introducing redistricting reform legislation this year to allow computers to draw fair districts instead, based on a mathematical formula that benefits neither political party.
I will also be introducing a bill (my second choice) to keep the flawed commission but remove the Virginia Supreme Court from the process.
Democrats promised Virginians redistricting reform but will they deliver in 20202?
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