Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Virginia voters approved a mid-decade redistricting plan Tuesday that could boost Democrats' chances of winning four additional U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections that will decide control of the closely divided Congress.

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Like Barney Fife says: "Andy, ya gotta fight fire with fire!"

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MAGA started this fight.

Are they winning?

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-21 11:19 PM | Reply

@#1

Asked differently...

Are voters starting to vote against what Pres Trump seems to want to do to the Country?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-21 11:31 PM | Reply

Adam Kinzinger
@adamkinzinger.substack.com
3h
Texas redistricts without a vote, Republicans cheer.

Dems in Virginia respond by putting it UP FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, it passes, Republican cry foul.

Oh well. Good job Virginia!!

#3 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-22 12:35 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#3 ... Dems in Virginia respond by putting it UP FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, it passes, Republican cry foul. ...

Not just Virginia, but also California.

In California redistricting was put up for a vote and it was approved by over 60% of the voters.


So, the question seems to become, why are MAGA so afraid of voters expressing their opinions?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-22 01:00 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Another view ...

Democrats boost midterm edge with Virginia redistricting win: 5 takeaways
thehill.com

... Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a mid-decade redistricting plan that could help Democrats win four more House seats ahead of the November midterms

Voters in the Old Dominion approved a temporary amendment to the state constitution allowing Democrats to draw new congressional lines favoring the party in all but one of its 11 House districts. Democrats currently hold a 6-5 edge, and the new map will hold until the process reverts back to a bipartisan redistricting commission after the 2030 Census. ...

The early vote looked slightly redder than what was seen in last year's general election in the state, signaling a potential path for the "no" campaign to win. The election day vote, though, wasn't red enough to secure a win.

Still, Republicans and anti-gerrymandering voices are touting "no"-vote turnout as a strong message of resistance to the Democrat-led plan.

"Even in defeat, this is a powerful message," said Brian Cannon, co-chair of the advisory council to the bipartisan group No Gerrymandering Virginia. "Despite being outspent by well over $60 million and facing biased ballot language, over a million Virginians stood up against a partisan power grab."

Richard Hudson, chairman of GOP's House campaign arm, also pointed to the tight margin, arguing it "reinforces that Virginia is a purple state that shouldn't be represented by a severe partisan gerrymander." ...


#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-22 01:10 AM | Reply

@#5

A couple of comments ...

First and foremost ...

1) Unlike Texas, Virginia put this issue to the voters, instead of the politicians just dictating it to the voters.

2) the GOP seems tacitly to admit that money has an outcome in elections.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-22 01:12 AM | Reply

The Washington Post Editorial Board was fine with Republicans gerrymandering in Texas.

But when Democrats responded in Virginia, it's a "power grab" that "plunges America deeper into the gerrymandering abyss."

bsky.app

#7 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-22 01:20 AM | Reply

John Fetterman: Everyone loses' in Virginia redistricting approval
www.newsnationnow.com

... Virginia voters approving redistricting of congressional seats in the state leaves Sen. John Fetterman believing both the Democratic and Republican parties come out on the wrong end of it all.

"I get the logic of doing things, but overall, we all lose at this point," the Pennsylvania Democrat said during a "CUOMO" appearance Tuesday. "I mean, the wrong thing doesn't make it the right thing, but that's where we are."

The redrawn congressional districts in the state essentially give Democrats a 10-1 edge in the state's delegation.

"If we continue to just attack the other side, whether it's a red state or whether it's a blue state, our democracy is degraded," Fetterman added. "It should have never come to that, honestly. The people should pick the politicians."

"The politicians should never pick their politicians. And so for me, it's a lose. It was necessary based on what Texas decided to do, but overall, our democracy hurts through this."

Virginia is the latest state to redraw lines to give an advantage to one party. States such as Texas and Missouri have changed lines that benefit Republicans. California also redistricted, which could potentially give Democrats additional seats. Now, Virginia has done the same. ...


#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-22 01:24 AM | Reply

1) Unlike Texas, Virginia put this issue to the voters, instead of the politicians just dictating it to the voters.

This is actually worse, its mob rule at its finest.

50.1% to 49.9%

#9 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-22 04:05 AM | Reply

2) the GOP seems tacitly to admit that money has an outcome in elections.

Why? Didn't seem to matter here.

#10 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-22 04:06 AM | Reply

You got your gaping ass kicked, runt.

#11 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-22 05:26 AM | Reply

Daily Trix
@dailytrix.bsky.social

Follow
Unfortunately for Republicans, Trump's relentless messaging about the White House ballroom just didn't break through to Virginia voters.

Lol

#12 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-22 05:30 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Virginia Republicans point fingers after gerrymandering loss

www.politico.com

Womp Womp

#13 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-22 05:58 AM | Reply

I just don't understand how vulnerable republicans, the ones whose seat was probably put at risk, were so eager to go along with the extremists in their party. Party loyalty has likely cost them their jobs. I guess the party will eventually find positions for them.

#14 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2026-04-22 09:40 AM | Reply

Looks like the courts said Nyet!

A Virginia court has voided last night's constitutional amendment referendum on redistricting, ruling the amendment process unlawful and blocking certification of the election results.
www.cnbc.com

Bummer, sorry Gaslighter.

#15 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-22 09:40 PM | Reply

#15 Creating an even more intense dummymander, not only in Virginia, but all around the country.

Thank you, Trump.

#16 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-22 09:43 PM | Reply

That'll last a whole week, Jeff, you child-raping ----. Put your head in a wood chipper.

#17 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-04-22 10:57 PM | Reply

Looks like the referendum is before the state supreme court already anyway.

#18 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-23 02:05 AM | Reply

The wording on the VA ballot for the redistricting vote was worded,

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?

Multiple lawsuits have been filed.

The wording of the ballot is pathetic.

"restore fairness"?

As if?

If the only justification is "Texas did it", that's pretty lame.

#19 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-23 06:15 PM | Reply

#19 Was it the fact that it had so many words that confused you, bj boi?

Or was it the fact that, combined with so many words, many of them transcended monosyllabic territory?

Because, quite frankly, bj boi, the words there were pretty clear to anyone with, oh, I don't know, a 3rd grade education.

You're still stuck in 2nd grade, I see, bj boi.

#20 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-23 06:28 PM | Reply

If the only justification is "Texas did it", that's pretty lame.

#19 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

Texas was allowing a psychopath to cheat his way into remaining in power.

As for what happened after, if you won't fight against a psychopath, you deserve what you get.

#21 | Posted by Zed at 2026-04-23 06:55 PM | Reply

#19 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

You're a shmoo, BILL. An animal whose instinct is to let itself be eaten.

Eaten and ---- out.

#22 | Posted by Zed at 2026-04-23 06:59 PM | Reply

"If the only justification is "Texas did it", that's pretty lame."

Translation:
When Texas did it, it was okay. When Dems did it better...NO FAIR! Waaaaaaah!!!

#23 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-23 07:10 PM | Reply

If the only justification is "Texas did it", that's pretty lame.
#19 | Posted by BillJohnson

If only you'd remember this the next time you deflect something Trump did with "Biden did it."

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-23 07:26 PM | Reply

If I get this right, VA has 11 districts and currently Republicans control 6 of them.

After redistricting Republicans will control only 1 of the 11 even though the popular vote is pretty close to 50/50 Democrat/Republican.

#25 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-23 10:16 PM | Reply

Sounds Good.

They should leave 0 districts for the Repukes.

For the Children.

#26 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-04-23 10:19 PM | Reply

Any time it gets talked about, people mention Texas.

#27 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-23 10:20 PM | Reply

Wow, the usual afternoon-active troll-farm aliases seem to be active this evening.

Something must have occurred.

#28 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-23 10:25 PM | Reply

The troll-farm seems to be most active this evening.

Curious.

#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-23 11:23 PM | Reply

Lamp,

Read the definition of troll.

You fit the description better than me.

#30 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-23 11:27 PM | Reply

Eff,

Currently the redistricting in VA is on hold until it goes to the Supreme Court.

It seems rules were broken in the process of holding this election.

#31 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-23 11:29 PM | Reply

@#30 ... Read the definition of troll. ...

Oh, I know how trolls behave. I used to run a bulletin board back in the day and had to face the troll-farms on a daily basis. That is why I stopped running the BBS. And also why I give major, major, congrats to RCade for running this most august board.

And I was not speaking about the definition of the word "troll" but more of a troll farm.


Do try to keep up.

:)

#32 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-23 11:37 PM | Reply

Lamp,

I participated in BBS back in the day.

#33 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 12:02 AM | Reply

@#33

Does not surprise me.

#34 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-24 12:46 AM | Reply

" Any time it gets talked about, people mention Texas."

Remember when you spoke out against the Texas redistricting?

No one else does either.

#35 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-24 07:46 AM | Reply

Dan,

"Remember when you spoke out against the Texas redistricting?
No one else does either."

I checked. You're right. I never commented on it.

But I don't comment on everything. So what's your point?

But if you want my opinion, it's this.

States have used redistricting to gain an advantage for years.

Is it fair? No.

Is it legal? If it's challenged and upheld in court, yes.

#36 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 10:55 AM | Reply

"I don't comment on everything. So what's your point?"

You were fine when Republicans did it for an advantage without public approval, yet VERY UPSET when Democrats did it WITH public approval.

So it's not the action, it's the letter after the name that determines your morality, or lack of it.

"Is it fair? No."

That's A LOT more than you ever said when Republicans did it. Why weren't you just as upset at Republicans?

(...I'm just kidding...we all know WHY.)

#37 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-24 11:25 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Dan,

"You were fine when Republicans did it for an advantage without public approval, yet VERY UPSET when Democrats did it WITH public approval."

"very upset" is a stretch.

I live in Virginia, so now it actually affects me.

If this redistricting goes through, people in the rural parts of the state, which covers about half the land, could lose influence over how Virginia is governed.

Like I said before, there are currently 11 districts, with 6 Republican. After this redistricting, that could drop to 1 out of 11 even though the state vote is far more balanced than that.

#38 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 11:57 AM | Reply

"If this redistricting goes through, people in the rural parts of the state, which covers about half the land, could lose influence over how Virginia is governed."

Or, to put it another way,

If this redistricting doesn't go through, people in the urban parts of the state, which covers about half the land, could lose influence over how Virginia is governed.

#39 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-24 12:04 PM | Reply

After this redistricting, that could drop to 1 out of 11 even though the state vote is far more balanced than that.
#38 | Posted by BillJohnson

You Republicans had your chance to end Gerrymandering.

You made your choice.

Don't cry about it now.

#40 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-24 12:06 PM | Reply

""very upset" is a stretch."

Nonsense.

In one case, it led you to say NOTHING. In the other, you're claiming NO FAIR...despite the fact the issue was put before the voters.

So you're definitely "upset" enough to post about it...in ONLY ONE of the cases.

"I live in Virginia, so now it actually affects me."

Even more damning: you were dead silent when it was happening to a perceived enemy, but upset enough to post when it's YOUR rights on the line.

#41 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-24 12:12 PM | Reply

Dan,

"despite the fact the issue was put before the voters."

There are problems with this election with cases currently going to the Supreme Court.

Start with the ballot language itself that was written by Democrats.

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?

That wording isn't neutral.

It tells voters the change would "restore fairness" instead of letting them decide whether anything needed fixed in the first place.

And this wasn't even a major public issue in the last election. It became one when redistricting was put on the table.

So yes, it was "put before the voters" but framed to lead them.

When Governor Spanberger was asked about it, she said Virginia's effort was "following similar initiatives in Texas and California."

Virginia followed Texas, just like she admits.

#42 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 12:32 PM | Reply

Dan,

"Even more damning: you were dead silent when it was happening to a perceived enemy"

Who is this "perceived enemy" you are referring to?

#43 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 12:34 PM | Reply

Like I said before, there are currently 11 districts, with 6 Republican.
#38 | Posted by BillJohnson

6-5 Republican. And that seems fair to you?

It should be at least 6-5 Democrat based on the last Virgina Governor election.

#44 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-24 12:39 PM | Reply

Republicans don't care about fairness.

As a matter of fact, Republicans prefer when it's unfair

Unless it's unfair to them

In which case it's a really big deal

And things must change

#45 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-24 12:46 PM | Reply

" Who is this "perceived enemy" you are referring to?"

The ones you treated as the least of your brethren.

They lost representational rights, but you couldn't be bothered to defend their representation ... only concerned about YOURS.

#46 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-24 01:04 PM | Reply


It should be at least 6-5 Democrat based on the last Virgina Governor election.
#44 | POSTED BY SNOOFY

2025 wasn't a federal election, do you not understand how your on systems work.

#47 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-24 01:41 PM | Reply

Pedo 47 Blames Glenn Youngkin for Virginia Map

www.politico.com

#48 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-24 01:44 PM | Reply

Snoofy,

"6-5 Republican. And that seems fair to you?"

It's in the ballpark...yea...adequate ratio.

Does 1 to 10 sound fair to you?

#49 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 02:14 PM | Reply

Does 1 to 10 sound fair to you?
#49 | Posted by BillJohnson

It does after what Texas did.

#50 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-24 02:14 PM | Reply

Dan,

"They lost representational rights, but you couldn't be bothered to defend their representation ... only concerned about YOURS."

I can only vote once.

Come on...be real...who is in my best interest is the way most people vote.

I don't expect things to be perfect...but the new redistricting is ridiculous.

#51 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 02:16 PM | Reply

Snoofy,

"It does after what Texas did."

I'll have to take your word for it. I didn't follow it.

Virginia is the only state I can vote in.

I guess 2 wrongs make a right?

Is that your motto?

#52 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-04-24 02:18 PM | Reply

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