A special session is the first step of what could be a months-long race to change Virginia’s congressional map before next year’s midterms. The nationwide effort spreads to Indiana.

Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, says that she doesn't oppose a push by the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts ahead of next

State lawmakers are convening to take a vote that would allow redistricting before next year’s midterms, though the process would take months.

A major political battle is unfolding in Virginia as Democrats in control of the General Assembly open a special session to redraw the state’s congressional districts—a move Republicans call a blatant power grab.

Democrats say the special session would start the process of amending the state constitution to allow new congressional boundaries.

Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, said Monday that she would not oppose a push by the state's Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Virginia lawmakers convened in the Capitol Monday for the start of an effort that opens the door to redistricting the state’s congressional seats. Virginia Democrats are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to begin the process for redistricting.

To the ire of Republicans, Democrats argued that Republican-led efforts to gerrymander states across the nation have forced them to consider redrawing Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.