Virginia Supreme Court approves new lines for key swing districts

The Supreme Court of Virginia approved a final version of the state’s redistricting maps on Tuesday. 

In a press release, the court announced that it had “unanimously approved maps establishing congressional and state legislative districts.”

The court’s order added that the maps, which are drawn once per decade after census results are completed, were “approved and adopted and, effective immediately.”

“The Final Redistricting Maps prepared by the Special Masters are fully compliant with constitutional and statutory law applied, as the Court directed, in an apolitical and nonpartisan manner,” the order said.

The maps were prepared by two “special masters,” representatives nominated from each party, as well as after “extensive public comment,” the order added. 

The Supreme Court was tasked with approving the maps after a bipartisan redistricting commission could not agree on new maps for Congress or the General Assembly, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Dave Wasserman, an analyst with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, tweeted that the map was “quite different from the special masters’ first proposal.”

Wasserman said that Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) finds herself in a more “tenuous” district, while Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) is in a “safe” one and Rep. Elaine Luria (D) is “still very vulnerable.”

By my calculation, that new #VA07 is Biden +7. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) would be much safer in a primary than in the first special masters’ proposal, but still somewhat vulnerable in November 2022 (though it’s better for her than her current Biden +1 seat).

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 28, 2021

Virginia is expected to be a contentious battleground state in next year’s race for the House majority.