The plan manufactured by Democrats would give them much greater potential to win 10 of the 11 state's districts in November's midterm elections, reports Associated Press. A constitutional amendment barely backed by Virginia voters allows the Democrat-led General Assembly to draw new districts, and Republicans promise to fight the new map in court.
Jeff Katz, a radio personality in Richmond, told AFN residents are concerned that this is the end of their beloved Commonwealth.
"I'm also hearing from a lot of people saying, ‘Okay, I'm out of here. I'm headed to Tennessee or South Carolina or Florida, where at least I can still have a voice, and we'll see what happens to be sure’," says Katz.
He also said that he has heard from a number of business owners leading up to this.
“That if this went in what they consider to be the wrong direction, they would be relocating their businesses as well, so this is going to have a lot of impact for the people here in Virginia," states Katz.
Former President Barack Obama campaigned for the redistricting vote. In a post on X, Obama congratulated voters for making the change.
"Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven't done it yet," wrote Obama. "Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back."
AFN asked Katz if Democrats are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor.
"I think they're doing more than tilting it," says Katz. "I think they're outright stealing seats in many cases."
Katz also dismissed claims from people in Virginia that this was to make up for Texas redistricting.
"It was New York state that attempted to do this initially, but they're silencing the voices of half of the population of Virginia for this," says Katz. "Even if you don't like what's happening in Texas or you don't agree with something happening in another state, you certainly don't give up representation, deserved representation, earned representation, for rural Virginians, conservative Virginians."
