VA legislative black caucus wants another minority congressional district

The leader of Virginia's Legislative Black Caucus is calling for the creation of a second state congressional district during this year's process of redrawing legislative boundaries for seats in the General Assembly and Congress.

At present, only one of the state's 11 congressional districts is considered a majority-minority territory: the 3rd Congressional District represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott stretches from Hampton Roads to Richmond and incorporates precincts in Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth.

But the caucus position is that news maps approved by the General Assembly should feature another district with an "appropriate mix of minorities."

State lawmakers have been privately discussing reapportionment plans for some time, even as a redistricting commission appointed by Gov. Bob McDonnell and student groups have worked on alternate maps that emphasize community continuity over other partisan considerations.

(Earlier this month, Politico reported that Virginia's congressional delegation (8 Republicans, 3 Democrats) have agreed on a redistricting plan crafted to protect incumbents.)

“To accept an incumbency protection plan as is currently being proposed is not in keeping with the spirit of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who chairs the caucus.

In a statement, Locke suggests drawing another district with a sizable minority population will help put Virginia's plan in greater compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in votings and elections.

The redistricting plan adopted by Virginia's legislature requires federal approval as a condition of the Voting Rights Act.

-- Julian Walker

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