Early Voting Points to Good News for Virginia Democrats

[applegrove]

Early Voting Points to Good News for Virginia Democrats

April 14, 2026 at 7:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 42 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/04/14/early-voting-points-to-good-news-for-virginia-democrats/

“Early voting data from Virginia suggests Democrats have an advantage in their push to enact a gerrymander that could net them as many as four U.S. House seats in this fall’s midterms,” CNN reports.

[everyonematters]

1. Why are we doing this?

All the indications are that Democrats are going to win the House by thirty to forty seats, and the margins are going to be significant enough that claiming it was stolen would be absurd. Everybody dislikes gerrymandering, including the largest bloc of voters, independents, because it makes elections less democratic. Why are we making elections unnecessarily less democratic. We should be talking about outlawing gerrymandering instead of doing it.

[applegrove]

2. To make it hurt Republicans who started this in Texas.

And no majority is too much. We have to make Republican anti-democratic gambits cost them dearly.

[everyonematters]

5. We need to think more strategically about the future.

This is an example of why Trump's falling approval ratings are not translating into rising approval for the Democrats and why independents are the largest voting bloc.

[Zambero]

3. A clear message to GOP from Dems:

You lead with mid-census gerrymandering and we will follow.

[everyonematters]

6. and let all of the independents think that Democrats are no better than the Republicans

[fujiyamasan]

4. Because the republicans need to learn the consequences

They wanted to rig Texas against us through mid year gerrymandering. Take your complaint and whining up with them. They started this mess. Democratic legislatures have for years trying to make redistricting a fairer process.

Republicans appreciate when democrats fight high instead of low. They view it as weakness. That era is thankfully dead.

[everyonematters]

9. The independents are learning that we are no better than the Republicans.

[fujiyamasan]

11. Independents can sit it out then

Many don’t learn. Most don’t pay any attention anyways.

If democrats don’t fight fire with fire, then we all lose.

I for one am glad democrats in these states aren’t sitting back and taking this.

[everyonematters]

13. You don't always have to fight fire with fire. This is an instance.

We are going to win the house anyways. Your attitude towards independents is unfortunate because they are going to be deciding elections for the near future.

[fujiyamasan]

14. Then please enlighten us with another strategy

Independents almost always have a partisan preference. There are very few truly unaffiliated voters out there in a hyper partisan environment.

I’m not sure what your complaint is. As I said, if you have a problem with what’s going on take it up with the Texas republicans party to start. They had several chances to not proceed.

[everyonematters]

16. I think that the number of truly independents is growing along with the number of independents.

Independents are growing due to a dissatisfaction with the two major parties. Just because the Republicans did it, does not mean we have to do it, especially since it makes no difference in the election.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. When this was set in motion the chance of a strong Democratic mid term wave was not as probable as now

And Republicans were pursuing partisan radical redistricting in multiple states beyond Texas which was already projected to net Republicans five more seats. Democrats had and still have good reason to fear that Trump will try to "steal" the upcoming election through their own gerrymandering as well as through other means, such as purges of voter roles, voter intimidation by ICE at polling stations etc. etc. Who knows what else Trump might attempt in order to hold onto power?

I strongly support the efforts of Virginia Democrats here. Assuming we retake Congress, we can begin to counter Trump's ongoing attempts to undermine our Democracy. But first we have to assure that we control Congress to put a check on him. Once we have defeated the movement toward autocracy that Trump is spearheading, of course I agree that gerrymandering should be eliminated and that we should then work toward that end.

[everyonematters]

10. So we combat Trump's efforts to undermine democracy with our own, and it isn't necessary.

There is no way the things you mention, if he does attempt them, is going to be enough.

[fujiyamasan]

12. Are you sure you're on the right site?

No one is interesting in your scolding and lecturing.

And please take your mindless false equivalence elsewhere!

[everyonematters]

15. I am a lifelong Democrat who is very concerned about the current state of the party.

If we don't start relating better with the rest of society, we risk becoming a minority party. Right now, the only thing preventing that, is the Republicans are worse.

[fujiyamasan]

8. One week away!

Impressed Virginia moved so fast. Surprised how much resistance this has had in Maryland, which is one of the most democratic states.