Virginia lawmakers name 8 members to redistricting commission

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia lawmakers have picked legislators to serve on a new redistricting commission created with the aim of eliminating gerrymandering.

Leaders in both parties have announced their picks in recent days to serve on the commission. The 16-member panel, which was created after voters approved a constitutional amendment earlier this month, will include eight legislators and eight other citizens, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

The selected lawmakers are Democratic Sens. George Barker (District 39) and Mamie Locke (District 2), GOP Sens. Ryan McDougle (District 4) and Steve Newman (District 23), House Democrats Dels. Delores McQuinn (70th District) and Marcus Simon (53rd District), and GOP Dels. Les Adams (16th District) and Margaret Ransone (99th District).

The districts covered by these eight contain either all or parts of 31 of Virginia’s 133 localities.

Newman’s district covers all of Botetourt and Craig counties, as well as parts of Campbell, Bedford and Roanoke counties and part of Lynchburg.

Adams’ district covers Martinsville, as well as parts of Henry and Pittsylvania counties.

The eight citizens will be chosen later by retired judges from a list prepared by legislators.

The maps developed by the panel will be sent to the General Assembly for an up-or-down vote with no opportunity to amend them. If the maps are rejected, the Supreme Court of Virginia will draw them.

Redistricting reform has become a hot-button issue nationally. Reformers say the practice of gerrymandering has led to anti-competitive legislative districts that choose polarizing candidates incapable of working across party lines in Washington and in state capitals across the country.

Below is the full list of localities represented by these eight legislators and which districts cover which locality

1. Alexandria [Partial] (Senate District 39)
2. Bedford County [Partial] (Senate District 23)
3. Botetourt County [All] (Senate District 23)
4. Campbell County [Partial] (Senate District 23)
5. Caroline County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
6. Charles City [All] (70th House District)
7. Chesterfield [Partial] (70th House District)
8. Craig County [All] (Senate District 23)
9. Essex County [All] (Senate District 4)
10. Fairfax County [Partial] (Senate District 39 & 53rd House District)
11. Falls Church [All] (53rd House District)
12. Hampton [Partial] (Senate District 2)
13. Hanover County [Partial] (Senate District 4)
14. Henrico County [Partial] (70th House District)
15. Henry County [Partial] (16th House District)
16. King George County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
17. Lancaster County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
18. Lynchburg [Partial] (Senate District 23)
19. Martinsville [All] (16th House District)
20. Middlesex County [All] (Senate District 4)
21. Newport News [Partial] (Senate District 2)
22. Northumberland County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
23. Pittsylvania County [Partial] (16th House District)
24. Portsmouth [Partial] (Senate District 2)
25. Prince William County [Partial] (Senate District 39)
26. Richmond City [Partial] (70th House District)
27. Richmond County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
28. Roanoke County [Partial] (Senate District 23)
29. Spotsylvania County [Partial] (Senate District 4)
30. Westmoreland County [All] (Senate District 4 & 99th House District)
31. York County [Partial] (Senate District 2)