Great stuff – the Virginia State Senate just passed four constitutional amendments (see below for a press release and video of the debate and votes):
- Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJ1) guarantees the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy in Virginia. It secures individuals’ ability to make personal reproductive health decisions without government interference.
- Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJ2) clarifies voter qualifications in Virginia, ensuring that all eligible citizens are fully protected under the state constitution.
- Senate Joint Resolution 3 (SJ3) affirms marriage as a union between two individuals, regardless of gender, sex, religion, or other factors. It reflects Virginia’s commitment to marriage equality and upholds fairness, equality, and the protection of individual rights
- And also HJ4, the redistricting amendment.
Now, on to the voters (and the courts, most likely)!
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P.S. Also, for a humorous moment, check out the folloowing video, as Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell mixes up “circumcised” and “circumscribed.” LOL
UPDATE: Here’s a statement from the DLCC.
BREAKING: Virginia’s Redistricting Resolution to Counter GOP Power Grab Heads to Voters
The redistricting fight will be won and lost in the country’s state legislatures
WASHINGTON — Virginia’s full legislature just passed a constitutional amendment that now heads to voters to allow the legislature to pursue mid-cycle redistricting in response to GOP gerrymandering across the country. The special election for voters to have their voices heard is likely to be scheduled for this spring.
This would not have been possible without the DLCC’s aggressive work to protect Democratic majorities in Virginia. In 2025, the DLCC helped deliver the largest Democratic House majority in nearly 40 years, and protected the crucial one-seat majority in the Virginia Senate in a special election earlier this month.
Our work is not over as redistricting battles continue on the national stage – the DLCC’s expanded target map represents the strongest path to level the playing field and build power.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“As Republicans intensify their efforts to steal seats and undermine our elections, Virginia Democrats are answering the call to protect our democracy. Voters will be now empowered to shape the future direction of the commonwealth and how they are represented in Congress. The DLCC has worked tirelessly to protect Democratic majorities in Virginia, ensuring this option would be on the table. Elections have consequences and empowering Democrats to protect our democracy starts with the fight to win more state legislatures across the country, which is why the DLCC is playing everywhere in 2026 to remake the landscape of state power. The stakes couldn’t be higher with fair maps and democracy on the line.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade. Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
