Former President Obama is increasing efforts in Virginia to encourage voters to back the state’s redistricting measure, aiming to boost Democratic candidates’ chances in the November midterm elections, telling Virginians “we’re counting on you.”
ABC News obtained the new video of Obama reminding Old Dominion voters that “early voting is underway” with turnout so far “in record numbers to vote yes” on the new congressional map.
“By voting yes, you have a chance to do something important,” the former president says in the video. “Not just for the commonwealth, but for our entire country. By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms. By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we’re counting on you.”
Obama reminded voters that the statewide special election will be held on April 21, this coming Tuesday.
Over 1,160,000 Virginia voters have cast their ballots since early voting began last month, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. It would pass in the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature should voters choose to approve of the measure.
The measure is a constitutional amendment that would temporarily bypass the state’s redistricting commission to redraw maps mid-decade, giving Democrats an advantage in all but one of the state’s 11 congressional districts. It would likely expand the state’s Democratic delegation from a 6-5 majority in the House to a 10-1 advantage.
