Dark money floods Virginia redistricting fight, with millions linked to Peter Thiel
Source: msn/Time
12h
Tens of millions of dollars are pouring into both sides of Virginia’s high-stakes redistricting fight, a closely watched test in the national battle over gerrymandering that could help determine control of Congress in November.
On Tuesday, Virginia voters will decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the state legislature to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections, temporarily overriding the state’s bipartisan redistricting process until after the 2030 census. The referendum follows President Donald Trump’s push last year for mid-decade map changes in Republican-led states.
The vast majority of the money pouring into the race in Virginia—around 95% of the almost $100 million raised—has come from tax-exempt nonprofits, also known as 501(c)(4) organizations, which are not required to report their donations. These organizations are a major source of so-called dark money in political campaigns, allowing large sums to be spent without public disclosure of donors.
Despite the roughly 15-point margin which won Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger her office in 2025, Tuesday's vote is expected to be a much narrower fight. Recent polls from Quantus Insights and the Washington Post suggest only a slim majority in favor of a redraw.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dark-money-floods-virginia-redistricting-fight-with-millions-linked-to-peter-thiel/ar-AA21gabI