With election day looming in just a few hours, President Donald Trump virtually hit the campaign trail Monday night to urge Virginians to vote no on the redistricting referendum.
First, during a radio interview with John Fredericks, Trump railed against Democrats and Gov. Abigail Spanberger. “It’s terrible,” the president said of the redistricting effort. “It is true, John, nobody’s ever seen anything like it. It’s so unfair. They even say it’s unfair.”
The president, who started redistricting efforts by calling on conservative states to redraw boundaries to help Republicans in Congress, said Democrats will “change things at the federal level” if they win more seats.
Virginia Democrats hope to win the referendum and then enact a U.S. House map that makes it much easier for them to win 10 of the 11 congressional districts.
Currently, Virginia has six Democrats and five Republicans in the House.
Later in the night on Monday, Trump participated in a tele-rally with the Speaker of the U.S. House, Mike Johnson.
“Tomorrow, your commonwealth has an incredible and really an important election in every sense of the word that will have major consequences for our entire country this November,” Trump said. “This is really a country election. The whole country is watching.”
Johnson echoed that sentiment.
“The eyes of the nation are on you tomorrow as you have a chance to vote no and say no to extreme Democrats who want to silence your voice and the voices of over 2 million Virginians,” Johnson said.
Democrats, relying on Trump’s unpopularity in Virginia, were quick to respond Monday.
“All you need to know: Trump is begging Virginians to vote NO. That’s exactly why we must vote YES,” said Speaker of the Virginia House Don Scott, D-Portsmouth. “Trump has driven up the cost of groceries, gas, and healthcare. Vote YES to hold him and MAGA accountable.”
The Vote Yes campaign also quickly commented on Trump’s efforts Monday night.
“Donald Trump and Mike Johnson swooping into Virginia tells you exactly what this is about: their power — not Virginians,” said Dan Gottlieb, communications director for the Vote Yes campaign. “Trump and his MAGA allies are trying to rig the 2026 midterms here in Virginia just like they have in other states, because the president thinks he’s ‘entitled’ to power. Tomorrow, Virginians can level the playing field. Vote YES and keep the power where it belongs — with voters.”
Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21.
Listen to all of Trump’s comments here