Controversial leaflets have reportedly been distributed in Virginia urging voters to reject redrawing the state’s political map to favor Democrats
A Republican-aligned political group has been accused of sending leaflets featuring Ku Klux Klan imagery to voters in Virginia ahead of a high-stakes referendum. The Washington Post has suggested that the campaign primarily targets black voters.
The mailers, reportedly distributed in recent weeks by the Democracy and Justice political action committee, use imagery associated with the KKK – a group historically linked to racist violence against Black Americans – alongside warnings urging voters to reject the ballot measure redrawing the state’s political map to favor Democrats.
The leaflet design combines emotionally charged historical visuals with simple, urgent messaging. One leaflet, shared by the Virginia Independent, features grainy black-and-white images from the era of racial segregation, including Klansmen in white hoods and scenes of Black Americans facing violence, alongside claims that “they want to silence your voice.” Another pairs civil rights-era imagery, such as marches and protests, with slogans like “politicians are trying to take our districts away.”
The April 21 referendum will ask voters whether to change how Virginia’s electoral districts are drawn, a decision that could affect which party wins more seats in Congress.
Black voters make up roughly one-fifth of Virginia’s population and are a key voting bloc in statewide elections. Virginia, though Democrat-leaning overall, remains a closely contested battleground state where even small shifts in support can sway outcomes.
A group, Justice for Democracy, has been sending out mailers and texts with some clear dog whistles, using varying disclaimers in Virginia (“Democracy and Justice PAC” and “Justice for Democracy PAC”). Its treasurer is listed as Christopher Woodfin and its address is the same… pic.twitter.com/JvetyKGnbw
— Matt Royer (@royermattw) March 7, 2026
Virginia’s vote comes amid a broader national push by Republicans and Democrats to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 elections, with several states already adopting new boundaries to gain political advantage. District maps are typically redrawn once every ten years after a census, with the next scheduled for 2030.
Unlike most states, which make such changes through legislatures or courts, Virginia is putting the measure directly to voters through a public referendum. Former US President Barack Obama has urged Virginians to back the measure.
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According to the Washington Post, polling and early voting in the referendum suggests neither side has a definitive lead.
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