In 2021, redistricting ceased to be a "winner-take-all" exercise. Voters approved a new process, one that called for bipartisan cooperation. But Virginia's new Redistricting Commission never came close to agreement. In the end, the responsibility to draw new district boundaries fell to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The court tasked two consultants — one nominated by each party — to draw maps that didn't favor either side. The only persons who were disadvantaged by the final product were incumbents, many of whom were paired (or even tripled) in a single district.