Washington, D.C. — Defend Forgotten America Action (DFAA) today released a new policy report, “Drawn Out: Virginia’s Mid-Decade Gerrymander Would Silence Rural Communities,” warning that a proposed constitutional amendment on Virginia’s April 21 ballot would dismantle fair representation for rural communities and concentrate power in large urban political centers.
The report finds that the proposed redistricting map would fracture rural regions like the Shenandoah Valley, splitting key counties such as Augusta and Rockingham into multiple districts, and attaching them to Northern Virginia suburbs.
“This is not about fairness, it’s about power,” said DFAA Founder Jenn Pellegrino. “This proposal would break apart rural communities and dilute their voices by tying them to districts dominated by big city priorities.”
The report explains that five congressional districts would originate in Fairfax County and extend hundreds of miles into rural Virginia, creating what the report describes as “tentacles” that override shared economic and cultural interests in favor of political advantage.
DFAA warns that the consequences go far beyond politics. The report highlights that rural Virginia is already facing significant challenges, including hospital closures, limited broadband access, and economic decline, and argues that dividing these communities across multiple districts would weaken their ability to advocate for solutions.
The report also raises concerns about the process behind the amendment, noting that it would bypass Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting commission, approved by voters in 2020, and instead give lawmakers direct control over drawing district lines mid-decade.
Read more in The Daily Caller.
