MEMO: Victory in Virginia Counters GOP Power Grab

Tonight, Virginians for Fair Elections—the “YES” campaign—secured a decisive statewide victory, approving a constitutional amendment to update Virginia’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 election—and in the process, dealing a direct blow to efforts by Congressional Republicans and Trump to rig the 2026 House map.

At a time when Republicans are aggressively manipulating maps across the country without voter input, Virginians held them accountable for their extremism, protected fair representation, and asserted their right to have a direct say in how their districts are drawn.

Leading the Fight
HMP’s 501(c)(4) affiliate, House Majority Forward, was the largest financial backer of the “YES” campaign—contributing over $38 million—and worked closely with The Fairness Project to allow the “YES” campaign to combat a well-funded $30 million+ GOP-backed opposition effort designed to mislead voters.

HMF’s investment ensured the “YES” campaign had the resources necessary to cut through these attacks, deliver accurate information to voters, and empower them to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

That investment was decisive, and played a crucial role in victory.

Stopping the GOP Power Grab
Across the country, Donald Trump and Republicans have pursued an aggressive strategy to redraw maps in their favor—often without transparency or voter approval—in a bid to rig the 2026 midterm elections and lock in a long-term House majority.

Leader Hakeem Jeffries and HMP have been the tip of the spear in responding to the power grab.

• HMP recognized that California’s Prop 50 was critical to blocking Republican gerrymandering efforts, and invested over $17 million—serving as the single largest donor—to help secure its passage.
• With victories in both California and now Virginia, Democrats are successfully building a firewall against Republican map manipulation. 

At the same time, HMP is taking the fight directly to Republicans in states where they have already attempted to rig the system, starting with Texas.

• Texas kicked off the 2025 redistricting fight when Republicans—under pressure from Donald Trump—pursued a rare mid-decade redraw to squeeze out more GOP seats in the Lone Star State.
• Republicans aggressively redrew Texas’ congressional lines to eliminate Democratic seats and cement their majority—and their dummymander will backfire.
• In July 2025, HMP launched the Lone Star Fund—a $20 million initiative to compete directly in these gerrymandered districts, flip Republican-held seats, and hold the GOP accountable, even in districts manipulated to dilute the power of the voters. 

Republicans Threw Everything They Had at This Race

GOP Money Flooded Virginia:

• In the final two weeks of the campaign, the GOP money machine opened the floodgates, pouring nearly $34 million into negative paid advertising and an expansive field operation at the precise moment when voters were paying the closest attention.

Virginians for Fair Maps—the “NO” campaign—was led and paid for by Trump operatives and national Republican infrastructure:

• The “NO” campaign had deep ties to Donald Trump and FP1, the GOP consulting firm led by top Trump political aide Chris LaCivita.
• It was led by Trump’s former 2024 state director and staffed by senior Republican operatives, including a former RNC “election integrity” official.
• Top Trump political allies were directly involved in managing and advising the campaign.

At the same time, the “NO” campaign deployed deeply deceptive and alarmist tactics to sway voters through disinformation:

• The “NO” campaign targeted Black voters with ads invoking Jim Crow laws and “images of Klansmen in white hoods,” attempting to stoke fear and distort the stakes of the vote.
• Other false messaging suggested prominent Democratic leaders—including Governor Abigail Spanberger and former President Barack Obama—opposed the amendment, attempting to confuse voters with disinformation about who supported the amendment. 
• These tactics were not just misleading; they were deliberately designed to suppress participation, confuse voters, and exploit painful historical trauma.

The Road Ahead
Tonight’s victory is a turning point—but not the endpoint. HMP will continue to protect fair maps wherever they are under threat, fight back against Republican efforts to rig the system, and take back the House in November. 

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