{"id":2602618,"date":"2026-05-14T10:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-made-a-massive-tactical-error-in-redistricting-sarah-bedford\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:19:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:19:00","slug":"democrats-made-a-massive-tactical-error-in-redistricting-sarah-bedford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-made-a-massive-tactical-error-in-redistricting-sarah-bedford\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Democrats made a massive tactical error&#8217; in redistricting: Sarah Bedford"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-made-a-massive-tactical-error-in-redistricting-sarah-bedford%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602618&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Examiner investigations editor Sarah bedford criticized Democrats for a failed Virginia redistricting effort, arguing it was a major strategic misstep. She said Virginia voters narrowly approved a referendum to redraw the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosi-who-claims-to-oppose-gerrymandering-funnels-300000-to-democratic-gerrymandering-group\/\" title=\"Pelosi, Who Claims to Oppose Gerrymandering, Funnels 0,000 to Democratic Gerrymandering Group\">congressional map<\/a>, but the Virginia Supreme Court later invalidated both the referendum and the resulting map, citing that lawmakers did not comply wiht the state constitution.<\/p>\n<p>Bedford also argued Democrats were disadvantaged because Virginia\u2019s congressional delegation was already close to an even split (6-5 Democrats). She further suggested that Republicans in other states were reluctant to redistrict-implying the margins available for Democrats to reshape outcomes were limited-while republicans now have more chance to use redistricting aggressively, including gains cited by Senate Majority Leader John Thune.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><em>Washington Examine<\/em>r investigations editor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/sarah-bedford\/\">Sarah Bedford<\/a> slammed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> for their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Virginia<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\">redistricting<\/a> referendum failure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s pretty clear that the Democrats made a massive tactical error with the Virginia referendum,\u201d Bedford said on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NyNoB8JkAEs\"><em>Hugh Hewitt Show<\/em><\/a>  on Wednesday. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4564445\/veterans-group-backing-iowa-democrat-bankrolled-by-schumer\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Veterans group backing Iowa Democrat\u2019s Senate bid is bankrolled by Schumer-aligned PAC<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4567133\/georgia-gop-senate-primary-fight-ossoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP fears prolonged Georgia Senate primary is blowing key pickup opportunity<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4565332\/nebraska-house-democratic-primary-results\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Denise Powell wins Nebraska Democratic primary in race to fill Bacon\u2019s House seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Virginia <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/henrico.gov\/assets\/Henrico_2026_04_21_SAMPLE_GENERIC_YW.pdf\">voters were asked<\/a> in April whether the state should redraw its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">congressional<\/a> map, framing it as a way to \u201crestore fairness.\u201d The measure <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4537925\/virginia-redistricting-referendum-results\/\">narrowly passed<\/a> as the <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race in favor of the referendum with 81% of ballots counted; \u201cyes\u201d votes led with 50.3% to 49.7% for \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Virginia <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> stepped in, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4551658\/virginia-supreme-court-blocks-redistricting-referendum\/\">invalidating the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >entire referendum<\/a><\/a> and the new congressional map after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/putin-signs-law-effectively-making-himself-president-for-life\/\" title=\"Putin Signs Law Effectively Making Himself \u2018President For Life\u2019\">voters approved<\/a> it. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-a-network-rife-with-predators-and-perverts-don-lemon-accuser-rips-cnn-after-cuomo-firing\/\" title=\"CNN \u2018A Network Rife With Predators And Perverts\u2019: Don Lemon Accuser Rips CNN After Cuomo Firing\">court alleged<\/a> that lawmakers did not follow the state\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/constitution\/\">Constitution<\/a>. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"NyNoB8JkAEs\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Hugh Hewitt Show I May 13th, 2026\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NyNoB8JkAEs?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Bedford said the Democrats in Virginia failed two-fold because there was already a relatively even split in terms of congressional representation, 6-5 in favor of Democrats. <\/p>\n<p>She said it\u2019s \u201cnot just because they didn\u2019t follow their own state\u2019s Constitution and get that referendum before voters, but also because you had some <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\">Republican<\/a> states that were reluctant to redistrict, because <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">California<\/a> had sort of battled things to a draw and maybe they could have just left it there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bedford said the pressure is on and \u201cRepublicans are absolutely up at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4538440\/by-the-numbers-how-many-seats-has-each-party-gained\/\"><strong>BY THE NUMBERS: HOW MANY SEATS HAS EACH PARTY GAINED IN REDISTRICTING?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bedford added that Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) said Republicans have gained around 10 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\">House<\/a> seats due to redistricting. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do think that was just sort of a massive strategic error for Democrats, simply because they have fewer states to gerrymander at this point. And if they are going to inspire Republicans into an all-out warfare, republicans just have more arrows to fire when it comes to redistricting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sarah Bedford: Democrats made a tactical error on Virginia\u2019s redistricting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4226,"featured_media":2602619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/vamaps.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,16985,32964],"class_list":["post-2602618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-redistricting","tag-sarah-bedford"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/vamaps.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602618"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602622,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602618\/revisions\/2602622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}