Obama Urges Virginians to Vote 'Yes' on Redistricting Measure

Former president says vote could 'level the playing field' ahead of 2026 midterms

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:28pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box sitting on a wooden table, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying the solemn gravity of the electoral process.The high-stakes Virginia redistricting referendum casts a long shadow over the state's electoral process, as voters weigh the political implications of their civic duty.University of Virginia Today

Former President Barack Obama has released a video urging 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 legislature to redraw the state's congressional map, reconfiguring four seats to favor Democrats. Obama argues the move is necessary to counteract Republican-led redistricting in 2025 that favored the GOP.

Why it matters

The outcome of the Virginia redistricting referendum could have significant national implications, potentially shifting the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats see the measure as a way to level the playing field after recent Republican gerrymandering, while GOP opponents argue it's an unfair power grab that undermines the will of Virginia's diverse electorate.

The details

The referendum would allow Virginia's Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw the state's congressional map, reconfiguring four seats to favor the party. This comes after Republicans redrew nine seats to their advantage in 2025. Over 1 million Virginians have already voted early in the April 21 referendum. The 'Yes' side has outspent the 'No' side on advertising, and has celebrity support, but polling shows a close race.

  • 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 measure.

Jen Kiggans

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

J. Miles Coleman

A political expert and analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics who believes Republican voters may be more enthusiastic about the referendum than Democrats, as they see it as more 'existential' for their party.

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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

“For Democrats, it would be nice to have these four extra seats out of Virginia if this map gets passed. But I just think probably something driving enthusiasm on the Republican side is that, from their point of view, this vote probably seems more existential … they lost their statewide seats last year in a drubbing. They could very well stand to lose a lot of their federal representation.”

— J. Miles Coleman, Political Analyst

What’s next

The April 21 referendum will determine whether Virginia's Democratic-controlled legislature can redraw the state's congressional map to favor Democrats. The outcome could have significant implications for the 2026 midterm elections.

The takeaway

The high-stakes Virginia redistricting referendum highlights the ongoing partisan battle over gerrymandering and the power to shape electoral maps. The vote's national significance underscores how state-level decisions can have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in Congress.