RICHMOND, Va. (CN) - Democrats took immediate advantage of their trifecta in Virginia's state government on Wednesday, advancing redistricting plans and measures to protect abortion access on the first day of the 2026 legislative session. 

The House of Delegates' Privileges and Elections Committee advanced four constitutional amendments guaranteeing Virginians' right to abortion care, automatically restoring voting rights to disenfranchised felons, removing an antiquated law banning same-sex marriage and allowing the Democratic-controlled legislators to modify congressional districts, outside of the standard decennial redistricting cycle. 

Legislators have to pass a constitutional amendment in consecutive sessions before the issue goes on the ballot. Democrats cleared the first hurdle in the 2025 General Assembly and are poised to advance the amendments for a second time as early as Friday. 

Democrats, who gained control of both chambers of the General Assembly along with the attorney general's office and governor's mansion in November, claim the redistricting plan - which, some Democratic leadership has said, could give them a 10-1 advantage in the House of Representatives - is needed to level the playing field. Virginia currently has six Democrats and five Republicans in the House of Representatives. 

"Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, but right now, that is under threat," state Senator Aaron Rouse said at a press conference. "That amendment gives Virginians the power to level the playing field and preserve fair representation and protect our democracy for our kids and grandkids."

Democratic leadership said President Donald Trump's request for states like Texas and North Carolina to add more Republican seats prompted the move. Rouse, who chairs the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, emphasized no maps had been finalized and that the public will see any proposed maps before voting. 

"What we're seeing across the country is an effort to rig the elections, take away power from Virginians by reducing our impact on the nation," Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott said during a press conference. "We have a responsibility to make sure that we fight back in this moment, and that's what we're going to do."

Republicans, meanwhile, claim the proposed redrawing of the congressional maps isn't the Virginia way. Republicans claim the effort is a slap in the face to Virginia voters, who in 2021 voted to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. 

"We all know that Virginia, at any given period, is probably a purple state, but obviously it trended very blue this time around, and people are taking advantage of that to get a constitutional amendment passed to exponentially suppress the vote of Republican voters," Republican Delegate Jay Leftwich said during the committee meeting. "Two wrongs don't make a right." 

The committee hearing allowed the public to chime in on the Democrats' plan. Those supporting the measure said it gives voters the power to decide how to respond to redistricting in other states. Those opposed argue the amendment lacks limits and could lead to annual partisan redistricting. 

The committee also heard from members of the public on the other three proposed amendments, each of which drew strong opinions. The reproductive rights amendment would give a state that already allows abortions enshrined reproductive rights, including the ability to make and carry out decisions relating to one's own prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management and fertility care.

Those in support of the measure spoke from personal experience about why they support women's ability to choose how to handle their pregnancies. Those opposed cited religious reasons but also criticized the amendment's language, which they claim fails to protect the rights of doctors morally opposed to abortion, allows abortion practitioners to work without oversight and removes any requirements that doctors obtain a minor patient's parents' consent before administering an abortion. 

Supporters of the amendment that would change Virginia's status as the only state in the country requiring disenfranchised felons to receive their voting rights directly from the governor argued it would result in less recidivism. Critics countered that although the amendment applies only to those who have completed their sentences, it does not require felons to complete restitution payments before obtaining their voting rights. 

Several members of the LGBTQ community spoke in support of the amendment that would remove a 2006 amendment ensuring Virginia only qualifies marriage as between a man and a woman.  Although a few Republican committee members voted for the amendment, others criticized the bill's lack of protections for religious clergies who are opposed to same sex marriage.

The amendment's patron, Delegate Mark Sickles, who is openly gay and is leaving the General Assembly for a position in incoming Governor Abigail Spanberger's administration, claims Supreme Court precedent negates any religious concerns. 

"If you paid any attention to the Supreme Court, recently, they've been very aggressive in protecting religious liberties, and that is why we don't need it in this bill," Sickles said of explicit language protecting a clergy's ability not to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. 

The first day of the legislative session ended with outgoing Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin giving his final State of the Commonwealth address. Youngkin, whose legacy includes cutting regulations en route to propelling Virginia as one of the top states for business in CNBC's annual rankings and penning the most vetoes in Virginia history, said he was filled with gratitude. 

"Four years ago, we collectively set out on a journey. A journey to unleash opportunity. To transform government. To make Virginia the very best place to live, work and raise a family," Youngkin said. "We have strengthened the spirit of Virginia together."

Source: Courthouse News Service