RICHMOND, Va. – Chatham Del. Les Adams is among the legislators who will serve on a new commission that will oversee how Virginia redraws its legislative districts in light of population shifts.
The selected lawmakers are GOP Dels. Les Adams and Margaret Ransone and Democratic Sens. George Barker and Mamie Locke, GOP Sens. Ryan McDougle and Steve Newman, and House Democrats Dels. Delores McQuinn and Marcus Simon.
Leaders in both parties have announced their picks in recent days to serve on the commission.
The maps developed by the panel will be sent to the General Assembly for an up-or-down vote with no opportunity to amend them. If the maps are rejected, the Supreme Court of Virginia will draw them.
Redistricting reform has become a hot-button issue nationally. Reformers say the practice of gerrymandering has led to anti-competitive legislative districts that choose polarizing candidates incapable of working across party lines in Washington and in state capitals across the country.