Virginia Gov. flatly denied any deal was made in crafting the new boundaries of the Second Congressional District on the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach after former Rep. Elaine Luria was followed out of an event by an individual demanding answers.
Luria, a Democrat who previously represented the Second District, is challenging Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, R-Va., in a race considered “Even” under the current map but that would skew Democratic under newly drawn boundaries that pull in heavily liberal Newport News and the city of Franklin while carving out more moderate parts of Chesapeake.
An individual filmed Luria this week as she left an evening event in Hampton Roads and asked twice: “Did you make a backroom deal with your best friend Abigail Spanberger to redraw the district?”
Luria ignored the man, but the video spread on social media as observers raised questions, given the tone of the redistricting effort led by Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
formally declined comment and Spanbergers camp flatly denied the allegation.
“There was no deal,” Spanbergers top spokeswoman Libby Wiet told Fox News Digital.
Meanwhile, Kiggans campaign spokesman Joe Link said the clip of the confrontation “speaks for itself.”
“Virginians should keep this in mind when they vote on April 21,” Link told Fox News Digital, referring to the date of the special election on the Democrats redistricting amendment.
Lucas did not respond to a request for comment but has been vocal online about the redistricting effort, mocking opponents like former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., and swearing at Sen. , R-Texas, by telling him she is “f—ing finish[ing]” what he purportedly started.
In January, Lucas took aim at Kiggans, suggesting she is intentionally trying to push her out of office. The 82-year-old progressive posted an image of Kiggans wearing a McDonalds uniform and asking if a customer “want[s] fries with that.”
Meanwhile, across the commonwealth, Republicans continue expressing outrage at the new map being put to voters as “restor[ing] fairness” on April 21, with the posting an image of their exurban county “sliced” into five pieces next to an image of deli salami.
Prince William, Arlington and Fairfax counties appear to be anchors for most of Virginias congressional districts, which critics say will suppress, if not dilute, the reported 45% of the population that votes Republican or lives in rural areas.
In Rockingham County, which surrounds Harrisonburg and sits in the Shenandoah Valley and is currently represented in whole by GOP Rep. Ben Cline of Botetourt, Fairfax-based Del. Dan Helmer was pictured campaigning for the newly drawn 7th District, according to the local GOP.
Helmer dismissed claims he also helped draw his own district, saying he is doing what Democratic leaders assigned him to do in “” in his caucus role, according to the Virginia Mercury.
Del. Joe McNamara, R-Cave Spring, told the outlet he still believes Helmer “craft[ed] maps for his benefit, and hes just the next one.”
“My role was electing a Democratic majority two years ago so we could fight back against what Trump is doing and reelect it this year,” Helmer told the Mercury in response. Helmer, who authored the states new sweeping gun ban, has two previously unsuccessful congressional bids under recent maps.
The took issue with his previous campaign pledge to be a “voice for Fairfax,” hinting, as in Kiggans district, that Democrats are intentionally drawing seats for themselves.
“They have no shame,” the party said in captioning a photo of Helmer campaigning locally.
Former first lady Dorothy McAuliffe, who also does not li
