In Virginia, redistricting matters

In 2021 Virginia redrew its congressional and state legislative maps. And while Governor Glenn Youngkin’s “parent’s matter” slogan may not have won him the majorities he wanted, elected officials and political analysts are saying it’s those newly implemented district lines that really mattered up and down the ballot.

Former Republican Delegate Greg Habeeb was particularly harsh in his 2023 election assessment.

“Money didn’t move races, messaging didn’t move races, hard work didn’t move races, mail didn’t move races,” Habeeb, who now runs Gentry Locke’s lobbying arm, said. “The districts are just what they are, at this point, in Virginia.”

He clarified his complaints were less about any one party or campaign, but after the most expensive legislative election in Virginia history, he'd hoped to see more of an impact.

"Both sides spent millions, both sides worked their tails off," Habeeb said. "And we ended up right where the maps were drawn."

When the maps were drawn by special masters at the request of the Virginia Supreme Court, compactness and keeping localities together were the primary goals. Partisanship was not supposed to be included, but by the time the state’s high court got involved Youngkin had upset Democrats’ state-wide winning streak.