Jeffries Targets Florida GOP in Redistricting Warning After Virginia Win

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 21, 2026 at 11:53 PM EDT


Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries congratulated Virginia on a new referendum that passed on Tuesday night, allotting Democrats the opportunity for more House seats, while also issuing a direct threat to Florida Republicans over their potential plans to redraw maps in the Sunshine State. Control of the House could hinge on a few seats, and Virginia’s shift arrives as Florida has scheduled a special legislative session on redistricting. Newsweek reached out to Jeffries' office via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Virginia voters approved a statewide referendum to enact a new congressional map that could net Democrats up to four additional U.S. House seats. The Associated Press (AP) called the Virginia race with the "Yes" getting the simple majority, potentially putting Democrats closer to reclaiming the House in November.

Virginia Election Results

According to the AP, the referendum passed 51.5 percent to 48.6 percent with 97 percent of the votes in as of 11:03 p.m. In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris won the state 51.8 percent to President Donald Trump's 46.1 percent in the presidential election, CNN notes. Virginia Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger won the state last year with 57.4 percent of the vote compared to former Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears' 42.4 percent, NBC News reported.

What To Know

Reacting to the news, Jeffries released a statement, according to PunchBowl News founder Jake Sherman on X, saying in part, "If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime pick-up opportunities for Democrats, just as they did with Trump’s dummymander in Texas. We will aggressively target for defeat Mario Díaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, Kat Cammack, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills and Brian Mast. We are prepared to take them all on, and we are prepared to win." Jeffries added, "Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/jeffries-targets-florida-gop-in-redistricting-warning-after-virginia-win-11861567

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