Marsden: GOP Redistricting Attempt a 'Sad Day for the Commonwealth'
Narrowly passed surprise legislation would shift Marsden's 37th District, mainly into Prince William County.
The surprise legislation proposed and passed Monday by Virginia's Senate — which would redraw some of state senate district lines in favor of Republicans — is "a sad day for the Commonwealth," State Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37th) said Tuesday morning. Virginia's Senate Republicans tacked on the redistricting proposal as an amendment to a larger bill, saying the move would help better represent African Americans in some of the state's districts. But opponents of the measure — introduced by Sen. John Watkins (R-10th), who represents a district west of Richmond — say it was an "underhanded" way to give Republicans a senate majority: The state Senate is currently split between Democrats and Republicans; some say the end result would leave …
