Would it surprise you to learn that the Republican National Committee (RNC) is completely missing in action when it comes to the fight against the Democrat Party's attempt to gerrymander the Virginia GOP out of most its congressional seats? If you live in Virginia, probably not. It seems like the RNC gave up on the commonwealth a long time ago.
To recap, state Democrats have drawn up a wildly gerrymandered map they would like to be in place for this year's midterm elections; the map would take Virginia from a somewhat balanced 6D-5R congressional makeup to a 10D-1R split that would disenfranchise huge swaths of voters from the red parts of the commonwealth. One proposed new district would include parts of populus, uber-lefty Northern Virginia and stretch its way down to the Shenandoah area, where sane Virginians are known to live, but not in big enough numbers to offset the insane to the north.
The big hurdle Democrats need to clear to get this map approved is an April 21 referendum that asks Virginians to nuke an amendment to the state constitution that they approved in 2020 creating a non-partisan redistricting committee. Democrats would like very much to override that amendment and replace it with one that empowers state lawmakers to draw the boundaries for both congressional and state legislative districts. Since they control both houses of the General Assembly, the new map is a slam dunk if the referendum passes.
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This is where the RNC comes in – or, rather, doesn't come in. They are nowhere to be found. While the left pours oodles and oodles of resources into their "Vote YES! on April 21" campaign, the right's response has been tepid at best. This isn't to say there aren't plenty of Virginians planning to vote no on the referendum because there are – there's just no national push to back them up.
Glenn Sturtevant, a Republican Virginia state senator who represents the area west and southwest of Richmond, took to social media over the weekend to blast the GOP for its failure to show up, especially as early voting on the referendum begins. He noted there is a lot of "concern and consternation" from those who oppose the referendum over the "lack of funding from federal Republicans, Republican organizations to push back on the spending from the other side."
Sturtevant was dumbfounded as to why the national groups aren't showing up, but noted they seem to have plenty of time and effort to "make sure the Epstein files aren't released" and voting in the House not to disclose "the congressional sexual harassment slush fund."
As Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and national Democratic groups campaign for the passage of a 10D-1R congressional map, State Senator Glen Sturtevant airs his frustration about the lack of financial support from national Republican groups.
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) March 9, 2026
“We are on our own.”
As Democrats… pic.twitter.com/9S6IHNz5UZ
As Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and national Democratic groups campaign for the passage of a 10D-1R congressional map, State Senator Glen Sturtevant airs his frustration about the lack of financial support from national Republican groups.
“We are on our own.”
As Democrats plans to spend $20 million + to pass mid decade redistricting, Sturtevant says national Republicans are missing in action.
Early voting is underway. How will you be voting?
Sturtevant told his fellow conservatives in Virginia that "we are on our own" and there's "likely to be no help coming from outside."
I have seen a report or two that former state attorney general Jason Miyares is funding an ad urging Virginians to vote no on the amendment, but it doesn't seem to be in wide release. Miyares and Eric Cantor, a former congressman, are partnering on a push to defeat the referendum, and, while appreciated, it's dwarfed by the big money coming into the state from the left from progressive groups like House Majority Forward and The Fairness Project.
Sturtevant is righteous in his anger at the lack of support coming in from the RNC and allied groups, but he's got a message for all Virginians who oppose the Democrats' power grab. "This is going to be a people-powered movement to shut down this illegal gerrymandering amendment," he said. "It's going to be social media. It's going to be old-fashioned door knocking and phone calls. And canvassing and yard signs."
"It's our obligation, our duty to stand up and fight back," Sturtevant concluded.
