Virginia Democrats are celebrating a recent redistricting victory, believing it secures their power for years to come. The new map dramatically shifts the balance, potentially giving them a 10-1 advantage in congressional representation – a stark contrast to the previous 6-5 split. However, their jubilation may be premature.
The core of the issue lies in a controversial map that concentrates power in the heavily Democratic Northern Virginia region, effectively diminishing the influence of independents and Republicans across the state. Governor Abigail Spanberger faced criticism for assurances given during her campaign, seemingly contradicting her swift action to support the new boundaries once in office.
This aggressive gerrymandering carries significant risk for Democrats, echoing the backlash faced after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. A former Trump administration staffer believes the former President possesses a unique and potentially devastating countermeasure, achievable with a single executive order.
Chad Mizelle, previously chief of staff to the Attorney General and Department of Homeland Security, proposed a bold strategy in a recent op-ed. His idea centers around the historical retrocession of land from Virginia to the federal government to create the District of Columbia.
In 1790, Virginia and Maryland each contributed land for the nation’s capital. A portion of Virginia’s contribution, including Arlington County and the city of Alexandria, was later returned in 1847. This retrocession, Mizelle argues, was fundamentally motivated by a desire to protect the institution of slavery within Virginia’s borders.
Past presidents have questioned the constitutionality of this retrocession, and the Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on the matter. Mizelle suggests Trump could issue an executive order declaring the slavery-motivated retrocession unconstitutional, effectively reclaiming Arlington and Alexandria for the District of Columbia.
Such a move would undoubtedly ignite a fierce legal battle, requiring action from both Virginia and the federal government to facilitate the transfer. However, Mizelle contends this “re-districting” strategy rests on stronger legal ground than many of President Biden’s more controversial executive actions.
The residents of Arlington and Alexandria, heavily populated with federal employees and leaning deeply Democratic, might find themselves comfortably within the nation’s capital. Trump, known for pushing legal boundaries on issues like birthright citizenship, has demonstrated a willingness to pursue unconventional paths.
This potential maneuver represents a dramatic escalation, a calculated response to what some view as a blatant power grab. It’s a move that could reshape the political landscape of Virginia and force a reckoning on the legality of past actions taken to preserve a deeply flawed system.
