Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is off to one of the rockiest starts of any governor in the commonwealth in decades — and a controversial redistricting reversal may be making things worse.
According to Washington Post polling, Spanberger’s approval rating sits at just 47% — a full 13 points below the historical average for Virginia governors and the first time a sitting governor has polled this poorly since the 1990s. The numbers reflect a sharply divided electorate, with nearly equal shares of voters approving and disapproving of her performance in office.
Affordability concerns are a significant driver. Despite campaigning heavily on lowering costs for Virginia families, 64% of Virginians believe Spanberger’s policies will either increase costs or have no effect at all. Just 31% believe her approach will actually make the state more affordable — a damning verdict on the central promise of her campaign.
Spanberger’s approval troubles are compounded by a redistricting fight she herself ignited. During her campaign, the governor explicitly denied any interest in redrawing congressional maps. Once in office, she reversed course entirely — now actively encouraging Virginia voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to redraw congressional district boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections.
If passed, the measure would replace Virginia’s current congressional map — which splits its 11 U.S. House seats 6-5 — with a legislature-drawn map projected to favor Democrats in 10 of those 11 districts. Critics have called it one of the most aggressive partisan gerrymanders attempted anywhere in the country.
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) didn’t hold back. “Don’t let them gerrymander our Virginia,” Kiggans posted on X, calling the amendment a “unilateral power grab” and urging voters to reject it at the ballot box. (RELATED: Virginia Lawmakers End Session Without Budget, Advance Cannabis and Gun Bills)
Virginia voters appear deeply skeptical. The amendment is currently polling at 44.9% in favor and 45.9% opposed — a statistical dead heat that reflects just how polarizing Spanberger’s post-election pivot has become. Supporters argue the change is necessary to respond to redistricting moves in other states. Opponents say that argument is a fig leaf for straightforward partisan manipulation.
Virginia voters have until April 21 to cast their ballots on the redistricting amendment. The outcome could reshape the commonwealth’s congressional delegation for years to come — and further define a governorship that is already struggling to find its footing.