Republican proposes giving Democratic-leaning part of Virginia back to DC after redistricting vote

AP News ^ | Updated 3:39 PM CDT, April 23, 2026 | JESSE BEDAYN and MIKE CATALINI

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Virginia’s redistricting referendum, which could net Democrats a 10-1 House seat advantage, is spurring Republican legislation that would expand the borders of Washington, D.C., and cost the state Democratic voters.

Georgia Republican Rep. Rich McCormick said Thursday he introduced the Make DC Square Again Act, a bill that would undo the 19th century return of the southwestern part of the district to the state of Virginia, known as retrocession.

“The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” McCormick said in a statement.

The measure’s prospects are unlikely in a Congress that can barely keep the lights on. But it’s the latest partisan salvo in an effort to gain the upper hand in the closely divided House ahead of this year’s contested midterms elections.

Proponents of statehood for the federal district are critical of the measure, saying it shows how Washington can be used as a “political football.”

“The residents of the district are not fully participating in the democracy of this country because we are not allowed to,” said Alicia Yass, advocacy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. “Bills like this that mess around with the district just show how important it is for D.C. to have the full benefits and rights of a democracy.”

Critics of Virginia’s referendum are calling on President Donald Trump to issue an executive order declaring the pre-Civil War return of Alexandria and Arlington to Virginia unconstitutional.

“This order would be on better legal footing than many of President Joe Biden ’s most egregious orders,” former Trump Justice Department chief of staff Chad R. Mizelle wrote in a Fox News opinion article.

Here’s a closer look at the issue.

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TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

[Sacajaweau]

It should be returned to it’s original 10 mile by 10 mile boundaries.

[TBP]

I completely agree. Where is the authority for the retrocession? We need a retro-retrocession.

[DIRTYSECRET]

What would Lisa Murkowski say?

[Sarah Barracuda]

Northern Virginia is all commie anyway mind as well

[CopperTop]

"..“The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” McCormick said in a statement.."

But I thought a lot of the bureaucrats were fired/laid off and moved away..
There must be a never-ending supply, eh? d;^)

[Wuli]

We read there is a valid legal argument that the process that left Alexandria in Virginia was invalid and it should have reverted back to part of D.C.. But the Dims back then prevented it because slavery was illegal in D.C. but still not illegal in Virginia, so Virginia got to unlawfully keep Alexandria.

[quantim]

Giving DC anything is a bad move, however in this case an exception is in order. Revenge is best served cold.

[Round Earther]

Will the remaining counties get to keep the tax revenue generated by N. Virginia?

[ProgressingAmerica]

We should follow the Constitution.

[Jim Noble]

Congress only has the legislative authority “herein granted”.

Congress in 1788 was granted authority to “accept the cession of territory” from states to form the seat of government. of the United States.

They were not granted the authority to give it away.

[TBP]

It absolutely should.

[CardeadInKy]

That is an absolute DUMB idea..... If that happens, the next thing for certain to happen is DC will become a State with 2 “radical” Democrat Senators! and 1 Liberal House Seat! Stupid , Stupid, Stupid idea!!!

[central_va]

That would happen anyway.

[central_va]

This is Arlington. Not a huge area.

[Palio di Siena]

Combine Fairfax and London - 2 Virginia counties - with
Montgomery and Prince George’s and Charles - 3 Maryland counties with DC
to form a new bright blue state.
It would turn Maryland and Virginia red

[bantam]

Do it!!!

[gildafarrell]

That would make sense. DC has, is and always will be demoncRAT. Yeah, give Northern VA to DC. See what flight to other climates will the No Virginians run to.

[maddog55]

I think every blue run city in the US should be part of the district. That would solve a large part of America’s problems.

[Tuxedo]

Not sure an EO can work here. Worth a try I guess, then the lawsuits begin, first by Virginia itself. No clue how SCOTUS would even handle this. Sounds easy on paper, but in reality... how does this actually work? Have to admit, it’s intriguing for sure...