Former President Barack Obama, in a video shared completely with ABC Information, known as on Virginians to vote in favor of a redistricting measure that might give Democrats a lift within the 2026 midterms if it passes.
“By voting sure, you may push again in opposition to the Republicans attempting to provide themselves an unfair benefit within the midterms,” Obama stated within the video shared with ABC Information. “By voting sure, you may take a short lived step to degree the enjoying discipline. And we’re relying on you.”
Barack Obama requires Virginians to vote for redistricting in new videoFormer President Barack Obama, in a brand new video shared completely with ABC Information, known as on Virginians to vote in favor of a redistricting measure.
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Over one million Virginians have voted early already, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, in an April 21 statewide referendum that may resolve if the Democratic-controlled legislature ought to be allowed to redraw the state’s congressional map.
Former President Barack Obama throughout a marketing campaign occasion for Consultant Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, not pictured, in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Bloomberg through Getty Photographs
That may enable the legislature to implement a map it already superior that may reconfigure 4 congressional seats to favor Democrats, which could possibly be decisive in the midterm elections for the U.S. Home of Representatives given Republicans’ present slim majority.
Democrats — together with Obama, who beforehand starred in an advertisement for the “sure” aspect — have argued that it is a crucial counterweight to mid-decade redistricting in 2025 that redrew 9 seats to favor Republicans.
Republicans and different opponents of the redistricting gambit, which can be nonetheless going through a court docket problem even because the election was allowed to proceed, have slammed the transfer as unfair to a big swath of Virginia voters. President Donald Trump obtained 46% of the vote in Virginia within the 2024 election.
“Virginia is a really purple state, and there is all kinds of voices in Virginia,” U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican whose district is redrawn by the proposed new map, informed ABC Information. “And for one political occasion to return in and assume that it is their manner or the freeway, and to pressure that down Virginians’ throats — this can come again to chew them.”
UNITED STATES – APRIL 11: Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., speaks on the Virginians for Honest Maps rally in Bridgewater, Va., on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Virginia voters will resolve if Virginia Congressional districts shall be redrawn to counter the Texas redistricting.
Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photographs
The “Sure” aspect has fundraised and spent thousands and thousands extra on commercials than the “No” aspect, based on campaign finance filings and an analysis by AdImpact. It is also been bolstered by celeb energy from figures equivalent to Kerry Washington, John Legend and Pusha T.
But polling has nonetheless proven a detailed race, regardless of the seeming momentum behind the “Sure” efforts. A Washington Post-Schar School poll carried out in late March, after early voting had begun within the state, discovered that 52% of doubtless voters within the referendum supported the transfer, whereas 47% have been opposed — a outcome simply exterior the ballot’s margin of error.
Why does it seem so shut? J. Miles Coleman, a political professional and analyst on the College of Virginia Heart for Politics, informed ABC Information that could possibly be partly as a result of for Democrats, the stakes might not appear as excessive as they’re for Republicans.
UNITED STATES – APRIL 11: Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks on the Virginians for Honest Maps rally in Bridgewater, Va., on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., applauds to the fitting. Virginia voters will resolve if Virginia Congressional districts shall be redrawn to counter the Texas redistricting.
Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photographs
“For Democrats, it could be good to have these 4 additional seats out of Virginia if this map will get handed,” he stated. “However I simply suppose most likely one thing driving enthusiasm on the Republican aspect is that, from their viewpoint, this vote most likely appears extra existential … they misplaced their statewide seats final yr in a drubbing. They may very properly stand to lose a number of their federal illustration.”
However Obama, within the video shared with ABC Information, framed the stakes as having nationwide significance.
“By voting sure, you might have the possibility to do one thing necessary — not only for the Commonwealth, however for our complete nation,” Obama stated within the video.
(The video additionally serves as a manner for Obama to reaffirm his assist for the poll measure, after allies of his harshly criticized mailers that used outdated quotes from Obama about redistricting to painting him as in opposition to the initiative.)
Some Democrats should not onboard.
Outdoors of an early polling website in Virginia on Thursday, Geoff Warrington, who works in tech and recognized himself as a Democrat, informed ABC Information he had chosen to vote no as a result of he believes it’s “comparatively unfair to primarily have redistricting quickly to reallocate seats to sway an election.”
An individual votes early within the Virginia redistricting referendum on the Fairfax County Authorities Heart, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Fairfax, Va.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
However for some Democratic “sure” voters, the referendum is a manner for Democrats to have the ability to strike again whereas being locked out of energy within the White Home and Congress.
“I imply, the Republicans have been enjoying soiled, so I believe the Democrats are good to play soiled,” Adan Hernandez, an engineer, informed ABC Information at a separate early voting website in Virginia on Thursday.
