In a video released exclusively to ABC News, former President Barack Obama urged residents of Virginia to support a redistricting proposal that could potentially benefit Democrats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, should it be approved.
“Voting yes allows you to counteract the Republicans who are trying to create an unfair advantage in the midterms,” Obama stated in the video. “This is your chance to temporarily balance the electoral landscape. We are relying on your support.”
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, over one million Virginians have already cast their ballots early for a statewide referendum scheduled for April 21. This vote will determine whether the Democratic-controlled legislature can redraw the congressional districts in the state.
If passed, the new map, which has already been proposed by the legislature, aims to alter four congressional districts to favor Democrats. This change could play a pivotal role in the midterm elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, particularly given the narrow Republican majority at present.
Democrats, including Obama, who previously appeared in promotional materials supporting the “yes” campaign, contend that this measure serves as a necessary response to the mid-decade redistricting conducted in 2025, which adjusted nine seats to benefit Republicans.
Opposition to the redistricting initiative, including from Republicans, has characterized it as an unfair tactic that disregards a significant portion of Virginia’s electorate. In the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump garnered 46% of the votes in Virginia.
U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans, a Republican whose district would be affected by the proposed map, expressed concerns to ABC News. “Virginia is a diverse state, and there are many perspectives to consider,” she remarked. “It is not right for one political party to impose its will on all Virginians, and this could have backlash for them.”
The “Yes” campaign has significantly outspent the “No” campaign, raising millions more for advertisements, according to campaign finance reports and an evaluation by AdImpact. The initiative has also received endorsements from high-profile celebrities including Kerry Washington, John Legend, and Pusha T.
Despite this apparent momentum, recent polling indicates a competitive race. A poll conducted by the Washington Post and Schar School in late March, after the early voting commenced, revealed that 52% of likely voters were in favor of the measure, while 47% opposed it, just outside the poll’s margin of error.
Political analyst J. Miles Coleman from the University of Virginia Center for Politics suggested that the close results might stem from differing perceptions of the stakes involved for both parties. “For Democrats, gaining these four seats would be advantageous if the map passes. However, Republicans may feel this vote is more critical to their future, especially after their losses in statewide races last year,” he explained.
In his message to voters, Obama emphasized the national implications of their decision. “Your yes vote can make a significant impact not just for Virginia, but for the entire nation,” he said.
This video also serves as a platform for Obama to reaffirm his backing for the ballot initiative, following criticism from his supporters regarding mailers that misrepresented his past quotes on redistricting to suggest he opposed the measure.
However, not all Democrats are in favor of the initiative. Geoff Warrington, a tech worker who identifies as a Democrat, expressed his opposition outside an early polling location, stating he believes it is “somewhat unfair to temporarily alter district lines to influence an election.”
Conversely, some Democrats supporting the “yes” vote view the referendum as an opportunity to respond to Republicans while they remain sidelined in federal power. “The Republicans have been playing unfairly, so I think it’s okay for Democrats to push back in kind,” remarked Adan Hernandez, an engineer, at another early voting site in Virginia.
