THIS ARTICLE IS COMMENTARY AND PUBLISHED IN OUR COLUMNS SECTION.
Weekly YouTube show dives into various issues, sites and events in the Page Valley
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 11 — This week we explore the ballot question before voters in a special election on April 21 all across the Commonwealth of Virginia: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?
We’ll talk with the chairmen of the Page County Democratic Committee, Miles Morimoto, and the Page County Republican Committee, Chapman Good, on whether voters should cast a ballot of “Yes” or “No” on the issue, as well as details on where to vote in person or for early voting, which began March 6.
(Page Valley Livin’~Episode 109 was recorded Tuesday, March 10, and aired Wednesday, March 11, 2026).
Coming up on Page Valley Livin’… we’ll discuss upcoming local events planned around the 250th anniversary of our nation, and plans for a warm weather youth football league.
The aim and purpose of these videos is to provide more information about more things that make up the wonderful place we call the Page Valley of Virginia. Serious issues will be handled seriously, while lighter issues may offer more opportunity to have some fun. There is no theme or agenda other than promoting the Page Valley, and trying to better inform the people who both live here and those who love to visit.
If you have suggestions for future shows or other recommendations, comment below…or comment on our videos on YouTube. If you like even a portion of what you see, please don’t forget to hit “Like” and Share the video, and smash that “Subscribe” button on our YouTube channel.
Thank you Mr. Arrington for airing this very important forum regarding the redistricting vote which is currently underway in VA. Both local party chairmans did a fine job of presenting their points of view, however, it left me wondering about a few things.
First and foremost, the reason why this is even happening in VA. The answer seems clear; it is in response to the president directing five other states to gerrymander with the sole purpose of gaining more republican seats in the House of Representatives. This is not a hidden agenda by White House leadership, but a deliberate and calculated power grab, unprecedented, and prior to the upcoming November midterms. I have zero doubt that republicans in VA would take this lying down if a democratic president authorized such a power grab and they held the majority in Virginia’s leadership.
Secondly, the Republican argument that the new 11th district boundary would result in less rural representation is a weak argument. As I watch more and more of Page County farmland become developed neighborhoods, and notice more of my neighbors are from urban parts of VA and other states, it would be a real stretch to say we are a homogeneous rural county with like interests. Page County has become increasingly more diverse with people of many ethnic groups, religions and colors.
So let’s be honest here; a NO vote means you favor a republican power grab before the midterm election because you support the current administration’s policies and actions here and abroad. A YES vote means you favor a midterm election that is more fair for all Americans, and oppose an unfair and unprecedented power grab by one political party.
Vote No. This video scares me to death. We are not an urban community. We are not a suburb of northern Virginia. We are a small town farming community trying to hold on to its heritage. Vote No!
Sherry, to use the excuse of “well Texas is doing it” is simple proof that you care more about the Democratic party than you do the state of VA. I couldn’t care less what TX or any other state is doing with their districts. I care about this state because I live here. The other thing you as a democrat won’t ever recognize is that the most absurd districts are in fact in other states which exclusively vote blue so don’t act like the GOP or Trump is doing anything out of the ordinary.
Well Mr.Sanford, I would be quite satisfied if none of the states were permitted to gerrymander. But when some do, at the direction of trump, then I do not find it acceptable. I’m sure you would agree if the situation were reversed, meaning a Democrat president demanding gerrymandering to hold onto power in the house and a red Virginia majority then gerrymandering to fight back. My husband and I voted YES in support of a fairer midterm election for ALL Americans. No doubt Page County will vote mostly NO, but every vote counts in the state. I despise gerrymandering but this is definitely an emergency situation for America.
Sherry Ford. If this gerrymander proposed by the democrats is an “emergency”(a lie), and you voted for it, after “despising” gerrymandering, then why did you vote for gerrymandering?
Democrats are always complaining about Trump deviously manipulating the voters, but he’s not a democrat. If Trump found a cure for cancer, the democrats would be protesting and demanding their cancer back.
What too many people don’t get is that Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio redrew their maps and did not put it out to vote by the citizens of those states. The maps were final. Total power grab. Virginia is at least letting its citizens vote. If Texas and the other states allowed their citizens to vote on the new maps, the contrast would not be made by Democrats. THAT is why we keep bringing Texas, NC, MO, OH into the argument. Trump ordered them to redraw the maps as he feels “entitled” to more Congressional seats. Imagine if President Obama had demanded Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, and other blue states to do that, behind closed doors, with no input from voters in the state. Hell, Republicans made a national security case out of President Obama using Grey Poupon mustard!
Obama didn’t have to because those states you mentioned are already gerrymandered to the max in favor of Dems. And please, stop using other states as justification for VA gerrymandering. It’s such an absurd argument. Wouldn’t you rather VA not play into the national political game and respect its communities?
So what did Trump expect would happen when he ordered Texas and North Carolina to gerrymander their districts? Constantly stirring conflict and opportunities for hatred doesn’t do us any good. The angry debate on this page is a sad consequence of leadership that tears us apart rather than unites.
So we go on forever, gouging at each other until the nation fails? Is that Trump”s solution? Presidents are supposed to lead us towards a better world, not further into disaster. Hillary was a damn fool. Let’s quit following her example.
Jeff, re-read my letter. My reasoning for voting YES is crystal clear. What trump is doing is extremely out of the ordinary and unprecedented prior to a midterm election.
Sherry, you’re not being intellectually honest in your arguments. You defend voting yes because other states are doing it, which again is absurd and because people are moving here except the population of the county is fairly stable. Neither of those reasons even if taken seriously address the point that this is a farming community that requires a completely different type of representation because it has needs that differ from NOVA. For example, do I care if the Metro is funded or should I be require to pay more in taxes to fund it? That’s a NOVA problem, not a Page County problem.
Be wary of the democrats. They’re wooing the Islamists for votes and the Islamists are joining the democrats because they say it’s the quickest and best way to replace the US government. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/176wJ9pEY6/?mibextid=wwXIfr GO AHEAD. LAUGH.
I’m disgusted and saddened that my retirement to VA has been negatively impacted by my being caught in the political storm here. To me, it should be simple… majority rules, period. The words bipartisan and gerrymandering are ploys for either party to take control. I do believe, however, that the President has gone too far “doing it my way, without the support of the people”. VOTE for what you think is in the best interest of your families.
The last part of your comment nails it. The fundamental difference is Trump said he’s “entitled to more Congressional seats” and ordered Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and soon Florida to redraw their maps, cutting out more Democrat voices. This is being done without input by citizens in the form of voting. It’s not “TDS.” It’s reality. Red states are being gerrymandered without a voice from citizens. The maps are final. Virginia (like California) is allowing their citizens to vote on the new maps. They can say “we’re not Texas or Missouri, we’re Virginia” all they want, but this is a national issue, not a state issue.
Mr. Jones, I lack the ability to explain thoughtfully why I was never a political person, just the excuse that our lives get busy. Shame on me if that’s “the tag” I’m given. I have spent a lifetime caring about an individual’s rights, freedom for all, women’s rights (as it evolved in my lifetime), protection of children, stopping abuse in all it’s forms, protecting the planet and living together peacefully. No comments added to a local newspaper story are going to change things today. I can only hope that the next set of people in charge of both local, state and federal governments have some good ideas about how to make it better and cost less.
Thank you Mr. Arrington for airing this very important forum regarding the redistricting vote which is currently underway in VA. Both local party chairmans did a fine job of presenting their points of view, however, it left me wondering about a few things.
First and foremost, the reason why this is even happening in VA. The answer seems clear; it is in response to the president directing five other states to gerrymander with the sole purpose of gaining more republican seats in the House of Representatives. This is not a hidden agenda by White House leadership, but a deliberate and calculated power grab, unprecedented, and prior to the upcoming November midterms. I have zero doubt that republicans in VA would take this lying down if a democratic president authorized such a power grab and they held the majority in Virginia’s leadership.
Secondly, the Republican argument that the new 11th district boundary would result in less rural representation is a weak argument. As I watch more and more of Page County farmland become developed neighborhoods, and notice more of my neighbors are from urban parts of VA and other states, it would be a real stretch to say we are a homogeneous rural county with like interests. Page County has become increasingly more diverse with people of many ethnic groups, religions and colors.
So let’s be honest here; a NO vote means you favor a republican power grab before the midterm election because you support the current administration’s policies and actions here and abroad. A YES vote means you favor a midterm election that is more fair for all Americans, and oppose an unfair and unprecedented power grab by one political party.
Vote No. This video scares me to death. We are not an urban community. We are not a suburb of northern Virginia. We are a small town farming community trying to hold on to its heritage. Vote No!
Sherry, to use the excuse of “well Texas is doing it” is simple proof that you care more about the Democratic party than you do the state of VA. I couldn’t care less what TX or any other state is doing with their districts. I care about this state because I live here. The other thing you as a democrat won’t ever recognize is that the most absurd districts are in fact in other states which exclusively vote blue so don’t act like the GOP or Trump is doing anything out of the ordinary.
Jeff, re-read my letter. My reasoning for voting YES is crystal clear.
Sherry Ford. I read your above dissertation and my wife and I will be voting “No”. https://www.multistate.us/insider/2026/3/9/state-redistricting-legal-challenges-intensify-ahead-of-2026-elections. (09 Mar 2026). The courts are involved, so why worry?
Well Mr.Sanford, I would be quite satisfied if none of the states were permitted to gerrymander. But when some do, at the direction of trump, then I do not find it acceptable. I’m sure you would agree if the situation were reversed, meaning a Democrat president demanding gerrymandering to hold onto power in the house and a red Virginia majority then gerrymandering to fight back. My husband and I voted YES in support of a fairer midterm election for ALL Americans. No doubt Page County will vote mostly NO, but every vote counts in the state. I despise gerrymandering but this is definitely an emergency situation for America.
Sherry Ford. If this gerrymander proposed by the democrats is an “emergency”(a lie), and you voted for it, after “despising” gerrymandering, then why did you vote for gerrymandering?
Democrats are always complaining about Trump deviously manipulating the voters, but he’s not a democrat. If Trump found a cure for cancer, the democrats would be protesting and demanding their cancer back.
Mr. Sanford, read my “dissertation” again.
What too many people don’t get is that Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio redrew their maps and did not put it out to vote by the citizens of those states. The maps were final. Total power grab. Virginia is at least letting its citizens vote. If Texas and the other states allowed their citizens to vote on the new maps, the contrast would not be made by Democrats. THAT is why we keep bringing Texas, NC, MO, OH into the argument. Trump ordered them to redraw the maps as he feels “entitled” to more Congressional seats. Imagine if President Obama had demanded Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, and other blue states to do that, behind closed doors, with no input from voters in the state. Hell, Republicans made a national security case out of President Obama using Grey Poupon mustard!
Obama didn’t have to because those states you mentioned are already gerrymandered to the max in favor of Dems. And please, stop using other states as justification for VA gerrymandering. It’s such an absurd argument. Wouldn’t you rather VA not play into the national political game and respect its communities?
So what did Trump expect would happen when he ordered Texas and North Carolina to gerrymander their districts? Constantly stirring conflict and opportunities for hatred doesn’t do us any good. The angry debate on this page is a sad consequence of leadership that tears us apart rather than unites.
Hilary Clinton called republicans deplorable and for a decade, the democrats have called us fascists. Stop acting like Trump started the divisiveness.
So we go on forever, gouging at each other until the nation fails? Is that Trump”s solution? Presidents are supposed to lead us towards a better world, not further into disaster. Hillary was a damn fool. Let’s quit following her example.
What was Biden’s solution? You dems have such terrible TDS that everything is Trump’s fault right? It’s why your opinion can’t be taken seriously.
Jeff, re-read my letter. My reasoning for voting YES is crystal clear. What trump is doing is extremely out of the ordinary and unprecedented prior to a midterm election.
Sherry, you’re not being intellectually honest in your arguments. You defend voting yes because other states are doing it, which again is absurd and because people are moving here except the population of the county is fairly stable. Neither of those reasons even if taken seriously address the point that this is a farming community that requires a completely different type of representation because it has needs that differ from NOVA. For example, do I care if the Metro is funded or should I be require to pay more in taxes to fund it? That’s a NOVA problem, not a Page County problem.
Be wary of the democrats. They’re wooing the Islamists for votes and the Islamists are joining the democrats because they say it’s the quickest and best way to replace the US government.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/176wJ9pEY6/?mibextid=wwXIfr GO AHEAD. LAUGH.
Derogatory speech should not be tolerated here. I hope the editor removes this post.
What’s derogatory?
Looks like the editor removed the post, and rightfully so.
I’m disgusted and saddened that my retirement to VA has been negatively impacted by my being caught in the political storm here. To me, it should be simple… majority rules, period. The words bipartisan and gerrymandering are ploys for either party to take control. I do believe, however, that the President has gone too far “doing it my way, without the support of the people”. VOTE for what you think is in the best interest of your families.
The last part of your comment nails it. The fundamental difference is Trump said he’s “entitled to more Congressional seats” and ordered Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and soon Florida to redraw their maps, cutting out more Democrat voices. This is being done without input by citizens in the form of voting. It’s not “TDS.” It’s reality. Red states are being gerrymandered without a voice from citizens. The maps are final. Virginia (like California) is allowing their citizens to vote on the new maps. They can say “we’re not Texas or Missouri, we’re Virginia” all they want, but this is a national issue, not a state issue.
Mr. Jones, I lack the ability to explain thoughtfully why I was never a political person, just the excuse that our lives get busy. Shame on me if that’s “the tag” I’m given. I have spent a lifetime caring about an individual’s rights, freedom for all, women’s rights (as it evolved in my lifetime), protection of children, stopping abuse in all it’s forms, protecting the planet and living together peacefully. No comments added to a local newspaper story are going to change things today. I can only hope that the next set of people in charge of both local, state and federal governments have some good ideas about how to make it better and cost less.