Speaker Mike Johnson raised $500,000 to oppose a Democratic ballot measure in Virginia that would change the state’s congressional districts. Johnson headlined a rally on Saturday in Great Falls alongside former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

He then attended a private fundraiser that brought in the money for the effort against the measure.

The ballot measure goes to voters in a special election on April 21. It would let the state redraw its 11 congressional districts before the next census. Virginia’s current map gives Democrats a 6-5 edge in House seats.

The proposed changes would create a 10-1 Democratic advantage, according to details released by backers of the plan.

Spanberger Defends Redistricting Move

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has supported the amendment. She said it responds to redistricting actions in Republican-led states and statements from President Trump.

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“Virginians have the opportunity to respond to the actions of other states and a President who says he’s ‘entitled’ to more GOP seats in Congress,” Spanberger wrote in a post on X.

Democrats argue the change would adjust how populations are grouped in districts while keeping some existing boundaries. The proposal would shift more areas to strengthen Democratic-leaning seats across the state.

Republicans have called the effort a direct attempt to gain more seats through mid-decade changes. They say it would reduce the voting power of Republicans and independents in Virginia.

Fundraiser Targets Ballot Measure

Johnson’s visit marked a direct push into the Virginia fight. The $500,000 will go toward efforts to defeat the amendment at the polls. The rally drew attention to the short timeline before the April 21 vote.

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Virginia Democrats have backed the plan as a way to secure their position in the state’s congressional delegation. The current 6-5 split would shift sharply under the new map, giving Democrats control of 10 districts.

The amendment would let the Democratic-controlled state government redraw lines now instead of waiting until after the 2030 census. Republicans say this breaks from Virginia’s tradition of using independent commissions for redistricting after the last round of changes.

Why This Matters

The April 21 vote will decide whether Virginia changes its congressional boundaries outside the normal 10-year cycle. A yes vote would give Democrats a stronger hold on the state’s U.S. House seats for the rest of the decade.

The outcome could affect how other states view mid-decade map changes and set a precedent for partisan redistricting battles ahead of future elections.