Nelson County voters leaned 55% against redistricting

Nelson’s turnout was 60% and roughly 7,200 voted out of just more than 12,000 registered voters. Of that total, 3,941 voted against redistricting while 3,220, or roughly 45%, voted in opposition. Seven out of the county’s nine precincts had more residents opposing redistricting than supporting — the Faber and Nellysford voting places leaned in favor of it.

The statewide constitutional amendment grants the Virginia General Assembly the authority to redraw congressional districts for the remainder of the decade. In statewide results, "yes" votes tallied 1,590,955, or 51% and "no" votes drew 1,491,828, or 48%. 

Jesse Rutherford, East District representative on the Nelson County Board of Supervisors, was staunchly opposed to gerrymandering that he feels strongly marginalizes rural localities.

“Greatly disappointed that Fairfax County is still calling all the shots for small rural localities like us,” Rutherford said. “Hoping the [Virginia] Supreme Court looks at this very seriously for the process that it failed to follow.”

He said he thinks the 55% showing of “no” for Nelson shows a clear statement against gerrymandering.

“And that's not just conservative individuals,” Rutherford. “That was a lot of people on the left side of the spectrum who said gerrymandering is wrong 100% of the time. I also believe that it is OK to have a difference in politics and have a unified front on gerrymandering. It’s bad. What they did in Texas is wrong and in Indiana.”

North District Supervisor Cameron Lenahan also was disappointed in the statewide outcome that puts Democrats at a major advantage heading into the November midterm elections if it withstands legal challenges in court.

“They call it a fair redistricting. What’s fair about a 10-to-1 split?” Cameron said.

Nelson would be part of the newly formed sixth congressional district, which reaches Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Radford and Blacksburg.

“Currently have a 1.94% voice in this new district,” Lenahan said. “I don’t think they’re going to have Nelson County’s best interests at heart.”

Rutherford said he is proud that a lot of rural Virginians came out and said no.

In the region, Appomattox County was 80% against it, Bedford County 79% opposed; Amherst, Augusta and Campbell counties 78% toward a no, Rockbridge County was 72% no and in Buckingham, 64% stood against it. Albemarle County was the only neighboring locality to Nelson in favor of redistricting with 65% of the turnout supporting it.  

“I think the rural to urban has now literally flipped, and when it comes to the focus of what's happening in our rural community versus what's happening in the myriads of metropolis areas in that new congressional district, yeah, I have a lot of concerns with that,” Rutherford said. “I actually think it's going to be very difficult for that congressperson to focus on the rural context and make sure that our issues, which are very different than those of the cities are being addressed.”

He noted Nelson County narrowly went in favor of Gov. Abigal Spanberger, a Democrat, by fewer than 100 votes in the November election. Its turnout this time, a stronger showing for Republicans, is “a big deal” and shows some left-leaning voters also took a stand against gerrymandering.

“And though I don't agree with everything the White House is doing, I can tell you this much: gerrymandering is always wrong 100% of the time,” Rutherford said.

The board voted 4-1 in March, with Central District Supervisor Ernie Reed opposed, to approve a resolution formally opposing the redistricting. Some residents criticized the move while others spoke in support at a board meeting last month.

Michael Hevener, chair of the Nelson County Republican Committee, said at that meeting the redistricting was only about undermining President Donald Trump heading into the crucial midterms.

“This isn’t about us, about fairness — it’s about politics,” Hevener said. “It’s about sticking it to our president — period.”

Reed said Tuesday evening he was very pleased with the redistricting passed and he expected the election to be close.

“It levels a playing field that is screaming for leveling,” Reed said.

Reed is hopeful Tom Perriello, the former 5th District congressman who represented Nelson County in a two-year stint from 2009 to 2011, will emerge as the Democratic nominee in the newly formed sixth congressional district.

During recent conservations with county residents, Reed said he also was aware of some on the left who didn’t support gerrymandering.

“Which I'm not in favor of either, but given the world we live in, it's the only pathway to democracy that I know at this point,” Reed said.

U.S. Rep. John McGuire, who is in his second year representing the 5th Congressional District that represents Amherst and Nelson counties and Lynchburg, in a Facebook post Thursday said he was elected to represent that district, adding: "Tuesday's election does not change that." 

"We expect the Virginia Supreme Court to do its constitutional duty and uphold the lower court ruling on the redistricting referendum as unconstitutional and illegal," McGuire said. "Until then, I will continue to campaign and represent the amazing people of the current Fifth District." 

Results by precinct 

ROCKFISH 

No          720          52%

Yes         659          47%

LOVINGSTON 

No          468          58%

Yes         334          41%

SCHUYLER 

No          323          60%

Yes         208          39%

SHIPMAN 

No          625          60%

Yes         414          39% 

GLADSTONE

No          134          71%

Yes         54            28%

ROSELAND 

No          717          63%

Yes         406          36%

MONTEBELLO

No          73            61%

Yes         45            38%

FABER 

Yes         267          50%

No          259          49%

NELLYSFORD

Yes          841         57%

No           622         42%