Democrats coming to grips with redistricting battle loss Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is reportedly urging fellow Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, to cease discussions about partisan redistricting and focus instead on winning upcoming midterm elections. This pivot comes after the party’s gerrymandering efforts in Virginia were invalidated and are seen as having backfired nationally, potentially costing Republicans fewer House seats than anticipated under a new map. Spanberger’s shift in stance follows her own reversal on redrawing district lines and her vetoing of several bills, which has angered some allies and fueled rumors of her own political maneuvering. The article suggests that Democrats’ aggressive redistricting tactics have proven counterproductive, leading to disarray and potentially harming their electoral prospects.

• Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is urging Democrats to stop focusing on partisan redistricting and concentrate on winning the upcoming midterms.
• Spanberger previously promised not to redraw congressional district lines but then supported her party’s gerrymandering referendum, which was later invalidated.
• Democrats’ redistricting efforts nationally are seen as having backfired, potentially limiting their gains in the House of Representatives.
• House Republicans may have gained up to 17 seats due to the current redistricting, according to one analyst.
• Spanberger’s recent actions, including vetoing bills and rejecting a plan to unseat the Virginia Supreme Court, have caused internal friction within the Democratic party.
• The article criticizes Democratic “maximum warfare” tactics in redistricting and compares their situation to Wile E. Coyote.