Hours after House Democrats suffered a major political setback in Virginia, Hakeem Jeffries was defiant.
In an interview with NCS, the New York Democrat predicted his get together would nonetheless win the US House of Representatives in November regardless of the GOP’s now-clear benefit within the nationwide redistricting combat — after which use its momentum to redraw extra state maps of their favor in 2028.
“The unprecedented decision by the Virginia Supreme Court reinforces the need to go all in in advance of the 2028 election,” Jeffries stated Friday afternoon, calling out roughly a half-dozen blue states which can be underneath intense strain to redraw congressional maps in favor of Democrats subsequent cycle.
“It’s going to be incredibly important that states like New York, New Jersey, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Maryland and Illinois are aggressive in moving forward to ensure that there’s a fair national map, particularly in light of what the Supreme Court’s attack on the Voting Rights Act has unleashed,” Jeffries stated.
On Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court voided Democrats’ attempt to redraw the state’s US House map in an April referendum, a devastating blow to the get together’s efforts within the nationwide redistricting battle launched by President Donald Trump forward of this fall’s midterms.
The House Democratic chief defended his determination to push for a brand new map in Virginia this cycle, the place state leaders created an aggressive map that would have left only one Republican seat statewide.
“We continue to proceed with an all-hands-on deck effort. The fight is not over in Virginia. We’re just getting started,” Jeffries stated when requested if he stood by the Democrats’ push there.
Jeffries, who wants to flip lower than a dozen seats to develop into House speaker subsequent yr, stated his get together may nonetheless flip “at least two” GOP seats in Virginia underneath the present map. He and the get together’s marketing campaign arm are eying a aggressive seat in Virginia Beach, held by GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans, and a Richmond-area seat held by GOP Rep. Rob Wittman. Some Democrats imagine one other seat within the Charlottesville-area, held by GOP Rep. John McGuire, can also be winnable this yr.
Democrats had stood to achieve as many as 4 seats within the new map, which voters authorized final month.
“If the current map holds in Virginia, we will at minimum flip two seats. And we’re exploring other options given how unpopular the policies of the Republican party have been,” Jeffries stated.
It’s not but clear whether or not Democrats have a path to difficult the court docket’s determination. But Jeffries stated the get together is at present evaluating its subsequent steps: “We’re exploring all options, legislative, in the state Supreme Court, and as it relates to federal court.”
In the final 10 months, Jeffries and House Democrats have efficiently satisfied two states – California and Virginia – to redraw their traces to favor their get together in response to Trump’s gerrymandering push in pink states.
Republicans, in the meantime, have efficiently redrawn maps in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Florida and Tennessee. Party officers hope these new maps will web them a complete of eight seats in November.
But Jeffries predicted his get together would nonetheless win in an surroundings that — proper now — favors Democrats.
“We remain in an incredibly strong position to take back the House based on the reality that the MAGA Republican majority has been a complete and total failure,” he stated. “We’ve been winning elections for the last 16 conservative months and Donald Trump has an extinction-level approval rating as it relates to the American people.”