Half of McLean has become part of the 8th Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D) as part of a massive redistricting of Virginia's 11 congressional districts by the state legislature and Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Previously, all of McLean was part of the 10th Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R). Now McLean is split between two congressmen.
Previously the 10th District went to the Arlington County line. Now it stops at Route 123 (Dolley Madison Boulevard). That means the southern half of McLean, the Democratic half, is now part of the 8th District.
The 10th Congressional District had to lose 100,000 voters, because Virginia grew by nearly 925,000 in the past 10 years, mostly in Northern Virgina.
The redistricting dramatically reconfigured the 11th District represented by Gerry Connolly (D). Connolly is now the new congressman for most of Reston, which was also previously represented by Moran.
Republicans and Democrats worked together to basically protect incumbents in creating the new district lines. Wolf lost southern McLean and part of Reston which are heavily Democratic which means the 10th District is now more Republican, but still considered a swing district.
"You never like to lose part of the district you represent," said Dan Scandling, spokesman for Wolf.
"You have a relationship with those people. But it (the 10th District) was bursting at the seams and Congressman Moran had to pick up people plus others had to come into Northern Virginia," Scandling said.
"The 10th had to shave over 100,000 people because of the growth in Loudoun," Scandling said.Loudoun County grew by 84 percent in the past 10 years. It started the new millenium with nearly 170,000 people and burgeoned to 310,000 by the end of the decade.
The entire state of Virginia grew by 13 percent. Fairfax grew by 11 percent but it's population is more than 1 million.
"Loudoun County was the smallest locality in the 10th in 1980 and now it is the largest," Scandling said. "All of the growth in Northern Virginia required representation up here."
That's why, Rob Wittman (R-1st District) from Newport News, now represents southern Prince William County.
Moran said through spokesperson Ann Hughes: "The changes weren't major and the district will become a little more compact and contiguous. I’ll be sad to lose Reston but the new areas including Mount Vernon, McLean, Mason Neck, Springfield and Lorton are all ones I’ve represented previously. I look forward to rekindling old acquaintances and making new friends in the coming months."
Back in McLean, two precincts that straddle Route 123, Chain Bridge and McLean, remain in the 10th District.
Each Virginia congressman represents about 727,000, Scandling said.
Source McLean Patch
