BACKGROUND: The Virginia General Assembly passed and the Governor signed a bill establishing a referendum on April 21 (early voting started 45 days before). The referendum authorizes the General Assembly to re-draw Virginia’s eleven congressional districts, gerrymandered to favor Democrats 10-1 (current make-up is 6 Dem, 5 Rep).
March 26 this flyer appeared in mailboxes throughout the state — President Obama urging voters to vote NO.
THIS FLYER IS PHONY. OBAMA IS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE AND HAS BEEN FEATURED IN TV AND RADIO ADS URGING VIRGINIANS TO VOTE “YES.”
The flyer was mailed by the “Justice for Democracy PAC.” This PAC is a shadowy Republican group.
A nearly identical graphic was texted the same day by Democracy and Justice PAC, along with a message purporting to be from an Obama backer named Suzanna. “President Barack Obama says ‘For too long gerrymandering has contributed to our stalled progress and warped our representative government.’ That’s why it’s important next month to vote NO against Virginia’s redistricting effort.”
Both these PACs — Democracy and Justice PAC and Justice for Democracy PAC — are chaired by former Republican Virginia Del. A.C. Cordoza, who lost his seat in the November 2025 election.
