Last week, 51% of Virginians voted to approve Democrat efforts to gerrymander the Commonwealth’s congressional districts. This is a disappointing outcome that relied on deceptive and confusing language, as well as an about-face from Democratic lawmakers who once claimed that non-partisan redistricting was so important that it must be enshrined in the Virginia constitution. It took a $50 million fundraising advantage, misleading ballot language, a full-court press from D.C. and national Democrats, and much of Governor Spanberger’s credibility to get this result. Residents in the New River Valley came out in force to vote against the constitutional amendment, with each locality in the 42nd House District voting “no” by majority. This was not an overwhelming mandate by any stretch of the imagination – it was a razor thin result, and a massive swing from the results of last year’s general election.
The last stand against this cynical power grab will come via the Virginia Supreme Court, which will soon decide whether or not to invalidate the election due to myriad issues with how the amendment was rammed through the legislative process. This is the terrible position that General Assembly Democrats have put us in, but it is now time to move forward. The outcome reshapes our redistricting landscape, but it also clarifies the stakes this November. Democrats just changed the rules to gain themselves an advantage, and now the Republican mission is clear: compete harder, organize smarter, and win where it counts this November regardless of how the court case shakes out.
Also of note last week, I returned to Richmond with my General Assembly colleagues to consider Governor Spanberger’s amendments and vetoes to legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session. General Assembly Democrats refused to vote on the Governor’s amendments to several controversial bills, including legislation banning the purchase of popularly owned firearms, paid sick leave mandates, and more. This means that Governor Spanberger will now have to decide whether or not to sign these bills as originally passed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly. She can choose to veto them, which would kill them outright. Much like the gerrymandering referendum, the firearms ban – if signed – will likely undergo intense legal scrutiny as to its constitutionality. Instead of returning money to taxpayers and focusing on affordability, General Assembly Democrats would rather have the Commonwealth spend millions of dollars to defend itself from endless lawsuits. This is not a responsible way to govern.
In addition to the scores of left-leaning legislation the General Assembly passed last week, House and Senate Democrats failed once again to deliver a state budget. If you are keeping track at home, it has been over a month since the General Assembly gaveled out of the 2026 legislative session. Democrats focused their time on a partisan gerrymandering power grab, infighting on how much to increase your taxes, removing your choice to purchase popular self and home defense firearms, and imposing new clean energy mandates that will cause your electric bill to increase. Since Democrats control the General Assembly and the entire executive branch of government, they have nobody to blame for this failure but themselves. The Commonwealth’s budget is not just the most important legislation we pass in the General Assembly – it is a statement of values. What values are General Assembly Democrats revealing when they cannot pass a budget?
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
