Congressmen Rally Against Virginia Redistricting Referendum in Tazewell

Community members gathered to hear from U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith and Ben Cline on the upcoming vote.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:35am

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A photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box or voting booth in a dimly lit, nostalgic small-town setting, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and creating deep shadows across the scene, capturing the tension and high stakes of the redistricting debate.The heated debate over Virginia's redistricting referendum casts a long shadow over a small-town polling place.Tazewell Today

Community members in Tazewell, Virginia gathered at the Vote No Rally to learn from and listen to U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (9th District) and Congressman Ben Cline (6th District). The congressmen urged attendees to vote against a referendum that could shift the state's congressional district map to a 10-1 Democratic advantage.

Why it matters

The upcoming Virginia referendum on redistricting has become a partisan battleground, with Republicans arguing the proposed map would unfairly favor Democrats. The rally in Tazewell highlights the high stakes and heated debate around this issue in the state.

The details

At the rally held at Wayfarer Appalachia, Congressmen Griffith and Cline spoke out against the referendum, calling it 'bad government' and 'not fair' for the people of Southwest Virginia. They argued that even though a Republican would still represent the area, the new district map would shift the overall balance of power in the state.

  • Early voting for the Virginia special election is underway and will continue through April 18.
  • Election Day is April 21.

The players

Morgan Griffith

U.S. Congressman representing Virginia's 9th District.

Ben Cline

U.S. Congressman representing Virginia's 6th District.

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What they’re saying

“It is absolutely bad government. It's not good for the people of Southwest Virginia. Even though we'll still have a Republican—they'll have me as their congressman—either way, it's not right. It's not fair, and it's not just.”

— Morgan Griffith, U.S. Congressman

The takeaway

The debate over Virginia's redistricting referendum has become a partisan flashpoint, with Republicans arguing the proposed map would unfairly advantage Democrats. The rally in Tazewell highlights the high stakes and heated rhetoric surrounding this issue as voters prepare to head to the polls.