Former GOP Delegate Behind Anti-Redistricting Flyers Invoking Jim Crow

A.C. Cordoza, a Black former Republican state delegate, is chairman of the group that paid for the controversial mailers.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The circulation of campaign flyers urging Black Virginians to vote against a redistricting referendum was roundly criticized by Democrats this week for invoking Jim Crow and using imagery from the civil rights era. The Democracy and Justice Political Action Committee paid for the campaign mailer, and its chairman is A.C. Cordoza, a Black former Republican state delegate who represented Hampton in the House of Delegates from 2022 to 2026.

Why it matters

The proposed redistricting plan would give Democrats an advantage in 10 of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, which has led to accusations from Republicans of gerrymandering. Cordoza's use of Jim Crow imagery to oppose the referendum has drawn strong condemnation from Democratic leaders who say the civil rights movement should not be exploited for political gain.

The details

Cordoza, who lost reelection last year, said the constitutional amendment to allow for mid-decade redistricting was akin to the Jim Crow era, a reference to the racist laws that enforced racial segregation. The flyers include photos of the Ku Klux Klan and civil rights protesters, claiming the redistricting plan will "silence your voice" and "take our districts away." Democrats have broadly endorsed redistricting as a way to fend off Republican gains made through gerrymandering in other states.

  • The Democracy and Justice Political Action Committee filed a statement of organization with the Virginia Board of Elections on March 5, 2026.
  • The public referendum on the redistricting amendment is scheduled for April 21, 2026.

The players

A.C. Cordoza

A Black former Republican state delegate who represented Hampton in the House of Delegates from 2022 to 2026 and is the chairman of the Democracy and Justice Political Action Committee, which paid for the controversial redistricting flyers.

Jay Jones

The Attorney General of Virginia, who condemned the flyers for misusing imagery from the Civil Rights movement.

Don Scott

The Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who said "The civil rights movement is not a prop" and condemned the flyers.

Rev. Dr. Cozy Bailey

The president of the NAACP Virginia State Conference, which condemned the flyers for the comparison to Jim Crow.

William Fralin

A former Virginia state delegate who initially was reported to have donated $10,000 to Justice for Democracy, but clarified that he actually donated to a different group, No Gerrymandering Virginia, and does not support the flyers.

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What they’re saying

“These are the same people talking about fairness, they constructed a map that disenfranchises Black voters in favor of Northern Virginia legislators. It's quite shameful, they have Black districts that are now going to be watered down by people from Northern Virginia...they're ripping apart Black districts to put in their hand-picked white representatives, and if that's not Jim Crow, what is?”

— A.C. Cordoza, Chairman, Democracy and Justice Political Action Committee (pilotonline.com)

“My parents and grandparents lived through the reality of Jim Crow in Virginia. They experienced firsthand what it meant when the law and the political system were used to silence Black voices. That history is not a political prop, and it should never be exploited in a misleading attempt to confuse voters.”

— Jay Jones, Attorney General of Virginia (pilotonline.com)

“The civil rights movement is not a prop. The blood, sacrifice, and courage of those who marched, who were beaten, who died for the right to vote – that legacy belongs to all of us, and it will not be hijacked by shadowy GOP political operatives to deceive the very communities it was meant to protect.”

— Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates (pilotonline.com)

“While the NAACP is nonpartisan, we are deeply engaged in political advocacy to safeguard our communities. This referendum is crucial for ensuring fair representation for all communities and countering the manipulative tactics that threaten our civil rights.”

— Rev. Dr. Cozy Bailey, President, NAACP Virginia State Conference (pilotonline.com)

“I did not give money to that PAC. I do not support it, and I don't want people being misled for or against this referendum. I want people to make an informed decision. That ad that I saw was misleading, and I disavow it.”

— William Fralin, Former Virginia State Delegate (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The public referendum on the redistricting amendment is scheduled for April 21, 2026, and voters will decide whether to approve the plan that would give Democrats an advantage in 10 of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the heated partisan debate over redistricting and the use of racially charged rhetoric and imagery to influence voters. It underscores the need for fair, nonpartisan redistricting processes that protect the voting rights of all communities.