Although two federal cases have been on the front burner, the nonprofit organization, OneVirginia2021, has filed a lawsuit in state court that challenges 11 House of Delegates and state Senate districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered. Since the boundaries were drawn by the Democrat-led Senate and the GOP-dominated House, the group says both parties need to go back to the drawing board.
The two federal cases challenge the racial composition of one congressional and 12 delegate districts. OneVirginia2021’s executive director, Brian Cannon, says the 11 districts in this lawsuit are misshapen, drawn to benefit incumbents, and are NOT compact-in violation of the state Constitution.
“We’re just focusing on a fair process. If we just have a fair fight, so in the marketplace of ideas candidates can have their fair chance to say what they want to say, then they’ll have a chance. And if somebody can only win in a gerrymandered district, then that’s not really a fair fight and a fair win.”
Cannon says the lawsuit argues that the districts should be redrawn.
“In the state Senate, there are three and three-three Senate Democrats and three Senate Republicans. In the House, it’s five districts, and there are four Republicans and one Democrat.”
But redistricting leader Delegate Chris Jones has a different view.
“I’m confident that they’re compact and contiguous and think it's a frivolous lawsuit.”
House GOP spokesman Matt Moran calls this “another political lawsuit that will cost taxpayers.” He says delegates complied with the rules for contiguity and compactness set forth in two Supreme Court cases.
The challenged districts include sections of Henrico, Prince William, Floyd, Montgomery, Franklin, Lynchburg, Alexandria, Fairfax, along with parts of other jurisdictions.
