The Virginia House of Delegates has given preliminary approval to a new plan to re-map the state’s 100 House districts during a somber session Monday.
The plan would shift three seats to Northern Virginia to accommodate for population growth in the region’s outer suburbs over the past 10 years.
The House made some minor changes from its original plan — including unsplitting some precincts in the southeastern part of the state — after Gov. Bob McDonnell vetoed legislation to re-draw the state’s 140 legislative districts.
McDonnell, however, expressed greater concern with the Democratic-controlled Senate’s plan for its 40 districts, which he said could violate state and federal law and lead to potential litigation. Lawmakers could reach a deal on the new maps by Wednesday.
Though the House and Senate both reconvened Monday to talk redistricting, the respective sessions were overshadowed by news of the death of House of Delegates Clerk Bruce Jamerson, with members of both chambers paying tribute to the widely respected Jamerson, who had served in the post for 20 years.
