Virginia Moves 2026 Primary Election to August Amid Redistricting Push

The change has drawn criticism from a Republican congresswoman who says it will "confuse voters".

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Virginia's primary election is being moved from June to August 4 this year, a change that has drawn criticism from at least one local congresswoman. The move is tied to redistricting, as Virginia Democrats are hoping to redraw the state's 11 congressional districts to give them a 10-1 advantage. The proposed map includes significant changes, such as placing voters in York County in the same district as Northern Virginia. Virginia voters could decide through a referendum election on April 21 whether to approve the redistricting.

Why it matters

The primary date change is not contingent on the outcome of the redistricting referendum, raising concerns about the potential to confuse voters. The move also highlights the ongoing partisan battles over redistricting and efforts to gain political advantage through the redrawing of district lines.

The details

Normally, Democrats and Republicans pick their candidates for Congress, the U.S. Senate, and local offices during primaries in June. This year, that election is being moved to August 4. The change was put into a budget amendment by Virginia lawmakers and signed into law last week by Gov. Spanberger. It is only in effect for this year. Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia) has criticized the change, saying "This is going to confuse voters" and "It's hard enough to get people to turn out for an election."

  • Virginia's primary election is normally held in June.
  • This year, the primary election is being moved to August 4.
  • The change was put into a budget amendment by Virginia lawmakers and signed into law last week by Gov. Spanberger.
  • Virginia voters could decide through a referendum election on April 21 whether to approve the redistricting.
  • Early voting is scheduled to start next week on March 6.

The players

Jen Kiggans

A Republican congresswoman from Virginia who has criticized the primary date change, saying it will "confuse voters".

Bobby Scott

A Democratic representative from Virginia who says the redistricting effort is a response to Republicans in other states redrawing districts to pick up seats for their party.

Marcia Price

A Democratic delegate from Newport News, Virginia who says the redistricting efforts are driven by a noble purpose to "maximize what Virginia can do to help the nation course correct and save our democracy".

Tim Anderson

A Virginia Beach attorney and former Republican delegate who has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the city of Lynchburg challenging the redistricting timeline.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to confuse voters. It's hard enough to get people to turn out for an election. I want as many people to vote as possible.”

— Jen Kiggans, Congresswoman (wtkr.com)

“We have to stand up and let it be known that if you're going to do this kind of thing that we can do it too, so we're responding.”

— Bobby Scott, Representative (wtkr.com)

“We are trying to maximize what Virginia can do to help the nation course correct and save our democracy.”

— Marcia Price, Delegate (wtkr.com)

“We have an emergency hearing tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. to ask the courts the question of what are localities supposed to do when there's a clear constitutional violation here.”

— Tim Anderson, Attorney (wtkr.com)

What’s next

A ruling out of Tazewell, Va. has put the election on hold, but it is being appealed. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the primary election to proceed as scheduled on August 4.

The takeaway

The primary date change and ongoing redistricting battles in Virginia highlight the partisan nature of electoral reforms and the potential for such changes to sow confusion and undermine voter confidence. As the state navigates these challenges, ensuring fair and transparent elections will be crucial for preserving the integrity of the democratic process.