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A proposed congressional map that would divide Fairfax County among five districts is already reshaping campaign plans across Northern Virginia, even though the boundaries have not received final approval.
Virginia General Assembly Democrats introduced the so-called “10-1” map in hopes of increasing their party’s representation in Congress. Opponents have denounced the proposal as unconstitutional gerrymandering, while Republican-led states have pursued similar redistricting efforts.
The plan would expand the number of congressional districts crossing Fairfax County from three to five, complicating representation in one of Virginia’s strongest Democratic areas.
Its future depends on the Virginia Supreme Court and a statewide voter referendum expected April 21. With the general midterm elections eight months away, some candidates have committed to districts on the proposed map while others are reconsidering where—or whether—to run.
1st District: Southeast Fairfax County
The proposed 1st District would cover Franconia, Hayfield, Newington, Rose Hill and Woodlawn, along with portions of Springfield, Bailey’s Crossroads and Lorton.
Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman, who represents the current 7th District, announced Thursday that he would seek the new 1st District seat. The proposed boundaries would include his Dale City home in Prince William County.
Vindman called the redistricting push a temporary and necessary response to efforts by President Donald Trump that he said threaten free and fair elections. He said he was prepared to continue representing central and Northern Virginia if voters approve the map.
Republican state Sen. Tara Durant of Fredericksburg and Lake Ridge accountant John Gray could also compete in the new district. Both previously declared campaigns for the existing 7th District.
7th District: South-Central Fairfax County
Annandale, Burke, West Springfield, West Falls Church and Pimmit Hills would fall within the new 7th District.
The unusually shaped district would stretch west to the West Virginia border, east to the Potomac River and south toward Richmond. Some reports have suggested it was designed to give Del. Dan Helmer of Clifton an opportunity to run for Congress.
Helmer, a Democrat and U.S. Army veteran, helped organize his party’s campaigns across Virginia last year. He also ran unsuccessfully in 2024 to succeed retiring Rep. Jennifer Wexton. He has not publicly said whether he will enter the new contest.
North Arlington attorney J.P. Cooney has filed to run in the newly drawn 7th District. Cooney was a senior deputy in special counsel Jack Smith’s office during two criminal prosecutions of Trump.
Announcing his candidacy Wednesday, Cooney accused Trump of threatening democracy, the rule of law and families’ economic security. He also criticized Congress for enabling the president and said he would confront Trump as he had while serving as a federal prosecutor.
Republican Doug Ollivant, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is another likely contender. He originally entered the race for the existing 7th District, but the proposed map would place his Culpeper County home in the redrawn district.
8th District: Southern Fairfax County
The proposed 8th District would contain Groveton, Fort Hunt, Hybla Valley and Mount Vernon, plus parts of Fort Belvoir and Lorton.
Democratic Rep. Don Beyer announced last week that he would run in the new district, which would continue to include his Alexandria home. Beyer has represented the current 8th District since 2015.
Acknowledging that the proposal would substantially alter his constituency, Beyer promised to seek support across the district, from Arlington to Yorktown, while providing responsive constituent services.
Marine veteran Adam Dunigan plans to challenge Beyer in the Democratic primary. Dunigan described redistricting as a form of political triage against the Trump administration but said his broader goal remained bringing change to the Democratic Party and serving Northern Virginia.
Former Alexandria City Council member Mo Seifeldein and Arlington attorney Daniel Gray had also announced primary campaigns against Beyer and are still expected to run.
Republicans Tony Sabio and Luke Nathan Phillips entered the contest for the current 8th District but have not said whether they would seek the redrawn seat.
10th District: Northwest Fairfax County
Chantilly, Fair Oaks and parts of Herndon would be included in the new 10th District.
Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam began his reelection campaign in January for the current 10th District seat. He has represented the district since early 2025, following Wexton’s retirement.
Centreville teacher Julie Perry and Army veteran Sam Wong are seeking the Republican nomination in the existing district. It remains unclear whether either would continue campaigning under the proposed boundaries.
11th District: North-Central Fairfax County
The redrawn 11th District would encompass Fairfax City, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Tysons and Vienna.
Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw, who has held the seat since September, plans to seek reelection.
When launching his campaign Feb. 6, Walkinshaw said he would campaign for fair representation and the voting rights of Virginians. He also welcomed the possibility of representing communities extending from Fairfax into the Shenandoah Valley, including Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, where he grew up.
Walkinshaw faces a Democratic primary challenge from Reston resident Bree Fram, a former Space Force colonel who was forced to retire after the Trump administration barred transgender people from military service. Fram filed for the 11th District race last month but indicated that her plans could change once Democrats released their proposed map.
No major Republican candidate has entered the contest. Stewart Whitson, who lost to Walkinshaw in last year’s special election, remains a possible contender because his Great Falls home would stay within the proposed district.