Obama Urges Virginians to Vote 'Yes' on Redistricting Measure

Former president says passing the measure could 'level the playing field' for Democrats in 2026 midterms

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:28pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office or legislative chamber, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the room, evoking a sense of political tension and uncertainty.The high-stakes battle over redistricting in Virginia could reshape the political landscape for years to come.University of Virginia Today

Former President Barack Obama has released a video calling on Virginians to vote in favor of a redistricting measure that could give Democrats a boost in the 2026 midterm elections. The measure, which will be decided in an April 21 statewide referendum, would allow the Democratic-controlled Virginia legislature to redraw the state's congressional map in a way that could reconfigure four seats to favor Democrats. Obama argues this is necessary to counteract Republican-led redistricting efforts that have given the GOP an unfair advantage.

Why it matters

The outcome of the Virginia redistricting referendum could have major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives, as Democrats seek to offset Republican gains from mid-decade redistricting. With the House currently narrowly controlled by Republicans, the Virginia vote could be a crucial factor in determining which party holds the majority after the 2026 midterms.

The details

The referendum would allow the Democratic-controlled Virginia legislature to redraw the state's congressional map, which Republicans had previously redrawn in 2025 to favor their party. Democrats argue this is necessary to 'level the playing field,' while Republicans have criticized the move as unfair to a large segment of Virginia voters. Over 1 million Virginians have already voted early in the referendum, which is also facing a court challenge.

  • The referendum will be decided on April 21, 2026.
  • Early voting in the referendum began in late March 2026.

The players

Barack Obama

The former president of the United States who has released a video urging Virginians to vote 'yes' on the redistricting referendum.

Jen Kiggans

A Republican U.S. Representative whose district would be redrawn under the proposed new map, and who has criticized the measure as unfairly favoring Democrats.

Geoff Warrington

A Virginia voter who identified as a Democrat but said he voted 'no' on the referendum because he believes it is 'relatively unfair' to reallocate seats to sway an election.

Adan Hernandez

A Virginia voter who said he voted 'yes' on the referendum because he believes the Democrats need to 'play dirty' to counteract Republican redistricting efforts.

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What they’re saying

“By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms. By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we're counting on you.”

— Barack Obama, Former President

“Virginia is a very purple state, and there's a wide variety of voices in Virginia. And for one political party to come in and assume that it's their way or the highway, and to force that down Virginians' throats — this will come back to bite them.”

— Jen Kiggans, U.S. Representative

“I mean, the Republicans have been playing dirty, so I think the Democrats are good to play dirty.”

— Adan Hernandez, Virginia Voter

What’s next

The Virginia redistricting referendum will be decided on April 21, 2026. If the 'yes' side prevails, the Democratic-controlled state legislature will be able to redraw the congressional map in a way that could give Democrats a boost in the 2026 midterm elections.

The takeaway

The high-stakes Virginia redistricting referendum has become a proxy battle in the broader fight over the balance of power in Congress. While Democrats argue the measure is necessary to counteract Republican gerrymandering, Republicans have criticized it as an unfair power grab. The outcome could have major implications for the 2026 midterms and beyond.