The referendum. The ruling. The appeal. The candidates. And exactly how to plug in between now and November 3.
August 2025 — Texas redraws its map At President Trump's urging, Texas Republicans adopt new boundaries projected to net five additional GOP House seats. Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio follow.
October 31, 2025 — Virginia Dems pass amendment — first time With a newly-won trifecta, Virginia Democrats approve a constitutional amendment to temporarily allow mid-decade redistricting.
January 16, 2026 — Second passage Virginia requires amendments to pass twice with an election in between. The amendment clears the second hurdle.
February 20, 2026 — New map signed into law (HB 29) Gov. Spanberger signs the bill. Rappahannock is drawn into the new VA-11. The same bill moves the primary from June 16 to August 4.
April 21, 2026 — Voters approve the amendment Statewide: 50.7% YES / 49.3% NO. Rappahannock County: 60.7% NO / 39% YES with 60% turnout.
April 22, 2026 — Tazewell judge blocks certification Judge Jack Hurley Jr. rules the referendum unconstitutional. AG Jay Jones immediately appeals.
April 27, 2026 — Supreme Court of Virginia hearing Oral arguments in Scott v. McDougle.
May 8, 2026 — SCOVA strikes down the amendment 4-3 The majority holds that 'general election' under the Virginia Constitution includes the early voting period. The General Assembly's first vote in late October 2025 occurred during early voting for the 2025 House of Delegates elections and was not properly separated from the second vote by an intervening election. The current map (6-5 Democratic) remains in place.
May 11, 2026 — Democrats appeal to SCOTUS House Speaker Don Scott and AG Jay Jones file an emergency appeal arguing SCOVA misread federal law's definition of 'election.' Chief Justice Roberts asks for a response by Thursday evening, May 14. Constitutional law scholars consider the appeal an uphill fight — but it is live.
60%
Turnout
60.7%
Voted NO
39%
Voted YES
50.7% Y
Statewide
Rappahannock is in VA-10. Our congressman is Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D), in office since January 2025. The SCOVA ruling on May 8 invalidated the new map. Unless SCOTUS reverses that decision, VA-10 governs the 2026 election.
Rappahannock would join the new VA-11. A D+14 district (Harris +14, Spanberger +25), Safe Democratic. The district stretches from Fairfax County's Chain Bridge precinct through Prince William, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Warren, Shenandoah, and into six precincts in northern Rockingham. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D) would be our incumbent — and he faces a contested Democratic primary on August 4.
Get every Rappahannock Democrat registered, informed, and ready to vote on August 4. The site of the fight changes; the fight doesn't.
Background: Elected in 2024 to succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton. Former Obama White House technology policy advisor. Small business owner in Loudoun. Volunteer EMT and firefighter. First South Asian American elected to the Virginia General Assembly.
For Rappahannock: Mobile office hours at the County Library. Town halls at Rappahannock Elementary. Happy hours at The Black Twig. Roundtables with Sperryville business owners during the federal shutdown.
The Primary: Unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 4.
Background: Unity-Reed High School (Manassas), NYU Politics. Chief of Staff to the late Rep. Gerry Connolly for more than a decade. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors 2019–2025. Won the September 2025 special election by 50 points.
In Congress: The only Democrat on both Oversight and Homeland Security. Founded the first-ever Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus. Forced the House vote that extended ACA premium tax credits for 335,000 Virginians.
The Primary: Faces State Sen. Stella Pekarsky and Amy Roma on August 4. Walkinshaw would represent Rappahannock only if SCOTUS reinstates the new map.
Background: Former Governor of Virginia (2002–2006). U.S. Senator since 2009. Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Signature Work: Lead author of the ROAD to Housing Act — the largest housing legislative package in decades. Save Struggling Hospitals Act (with Sen. Marsha Blackburn) reforms rural hospital reimbursement. $1.4B BEAD broadband award for Virginia.
The Race: 54%–29% approval. Rated Likely Democratic. The Senate race is unaffected by the SCOVA ruling or the SCOTUS appeal.
Stella Pekarsky (Centreville) — Virginia State Senator (D-36) and former Fairfax County School Board Chair. Mother of six. Daughter of working-class Greek immigrants. Beat an entrenched incumbent to win her Senate seat in 2023. Site: stellapekarsky.com
Amy Roma (Vienna) — Partner and global energy practice leader at Hogan Lovells. Led legal teams for the Kabul evacuations. Has testified before Congress and spoken at UN climate summits. Site: amyroma.com
Both would only appear on a Rappahannock ballot if SCOTUS reinstates the new map.
SCOTUS Response Deadline
May 14, 2026
Primary Day
Aug 4, 2026
General Election
Nov 3, 2026
Early Voting (Primary)
Jun 18 – Aug 1
Early Voting (General)
Sep 18 – Oct 31
Kimberly McKiernan
262A Gay Street, Washington, VA 22747\nPhone: (540) 675-5380 | Email: vote@rappahannockcountyva.gov\n Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM\n Voter Lookup: vote.elections.virginia.gov
Suggested annual dues $25. Fill out the membership form at rappdems.org. Members vote on officers and help set direction.
Second Saturday of every month. Washington Town Hall. Coffee at 9:30, meeting at 10:00. All are welcome.
Primary season turns up the heat in June. Contact the RCDC to join a phone banking session — we work with Virginia Coordinated Campaign to reach voters ahead of the August 4 Democratic primary.
Rural Rappahannock means many neighbors need a ride on Election Day. Volunteer as a driver for the August 4 primary and November 3 general election.
The most important conversations are the ones over coffee, in line at the post office, at the Farmer's Market. Honest, patient, local — that's how we make the case one good conversation at a time.
RCDC runs on dues and donations. A $25 or $100 contribution funds yard signs, mailers, and our share of the district organizing effort. Every dollar stays local.
In a county of 7,348 people, your participation carries real weight. Between now and November 3, there's work to do. Join us.
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