Johnson: Virginia redistricting a “dishonest gambit”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday called the mid-decade redistricting plan approved by Virginia voters a “dishonest gambit to try to rig the system” and predicted the state’s Supreme Court would strike down the new map.

“It’s a hyper-partisan, gerrymandering boondoggle. We fought hard. We raised a ton of money. We did our best, but the Democrats in charge of Virginia foisted this upon the people,” he told reporters at the Capitol.

“We are confident and calling upon the Virginia Supreme Court to do the obvious and right result, and that is to strike this thing down.”

The new map — which was proposed as a means of countering GOP gerrymandering in other states, notably Texas — could net Democrats as many as four new seats in the November midterms, giving them control of 10 of the state’s 11 districts.

“This is a divided state. It’s almost 50–50, so a 10 to 1 map is not justified in that state,” Speaker Johnson said. “The fact that it was so close demonstrates and proves exactly what we’ve been saying from the beginning.”

The speaker went on to say that the close result of the referendum — 51% in favor, 49% opposed — was actually a positive sign for Republicans as they look to hold onto their slim majority.

“Last night was a good sign,” he said. “Many of you thought that Republicans would not turn out for that ballot initiative vote, and they did, in big numbers, and we almost turned the tide.”

Speaker Johnson predicted that Republicans would keep their majority in the midterms.

“Democrats started this. The Republican states are doing what they can do lawfully under their state laws,” he said. “We are on track to win in November. Watch.”

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