How Nonprofits Helped Win Virginia's Redistricting-and What It Means in a Post-Callais Landscape | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

Virginia voters approved a new congressional map in April, created by Democrats to counter last year’s gerrymandering in Texas. A broad nonprofit coalition supported the effort through legal analysis, public education, national policy support, and grassroots organizing focused on anti-gerrymandering reform and map fairness. Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, participated in protecting fair representation. After the referendum vote, Virginia’s Supreme Court declared the map null and void on May 8 by a 4 to 3 decision. Shortly afterward, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision weakened voters’ ability to challenge discriminatory maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The effort demonstrated how civic organizations can influence political power before district lines harden.

"Virginia voters approved a new congressional map drawn by Democrats hoping to balance out last year's gerrymandering in Texas. Virginia's redistricting fight was powered by a broad nonprofit coalition that helped push through a temporary map change and, for a brief moment, suggested Democrats could regain up to four House of Representative seats."

"Brennan Center for Justice, which provided legal analysis, public education, and national policy support for Virginia's redistricting and broader fair-maps efforts. Common Cause, especially Common Cause Virginia, which organized grassroots groups to push anti-gerrymandering reform and public engagement around map fairness. NAACP, which was part of the broader constellation of civil rights groups engaged in protecting fair representation in Virginia redistricting debates."

"First, Virginia's Supreme Court declared the new map null and void on May 8, in a 4 to 3 decision. Then, the US Supreme Court issued a decision on Louisiana v. Callais, weakening voters' ability to challenge discriminatory maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (52 U.S.C. § 1030)."

"Nevertheless, this fight showed that civic organizations can shape political power before district lines harden for another decade, and how legal expertise, grassroots trust, and public education can work together when the stakes are high."

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