Loss of Institutional Knowledge

Redistricting dealt a devastating blow to the General Assembly. In the 2024 session, the number of legislators with less than five years of service was at its highest point in the past 16 years. Retirements and election defeats of senior members left both bodies with fewer experienced legislators than they have had in recent years. Both the Senate and House of Delegates faced record turnover caused by newly drawn districts that did not consider incumbents’ addresses, pairing many legislators together and forcing them to retire, move, or run against their colleagues in primaries or general elections.

Helpful background:

• The Virginia Constitution requires members of the General Assembly to be residents of the districts they represent.
• Legislators usually conduct the redistricting process themselves, but the latest boundaries were drawn by the Supreme Court of Virginia and didn't take legislators' interests into account
• Other Civics Navigator resources about redistricting

Potential discussion prompts:

• Why were there more election defeats and retirements of senior members after redistricting?
• Which chamber saw the most dramatic loss of time in office after redistricting? Why might that be?