Virginia Voters Approve New Congressional Map Helping Democrats in Midterms

Virginia voters approved a new congressional map on Tuesday that redraws district lines to benefit Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. The vote was part of a nationwide redistricting battle between parties trying to gain control of Congress.

Democrats argued that voting for the new map would help their party stop Trump's agenda. President Trump stayed out of the fight until the final hours before Election Day, when he urged Virginia voters to reject the map.

The approval came after Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission deadlocked five years ago. A Democratic appointee to that commission said Republicans have benefited from favorable maps in the past.

Virginia's decision adds to the redistricting arms race happening across the country. Both parties are redrawing congressional maps in their favor, a practice called gerrymandering, to win more seats in the House of Representatives.

The outcome in Virginia gives Democrats better chances of winning congressional seats there in November's midterm elections.