Just weeks before Virginia elects a new governor, there’s a surprise move that could upend the state’s congressional makeup. Democrats, who control the state’s general assembly, are poised to hold a special session in Richmond to redraw congressional maps. It could wipe out GOP seats and put more democrats in Congress. FOX 5’s Tom Fitzgerald is in Arlington with more.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Just weeks before Virginia elects a new governor, there’s a surprise move that could upend the state’s congressional makeup.

Democrats, who control the state’s General Assembly, are poised to hold a special session in Richmond to redraw congressional maps. It could wipe out GOP seats and put more Democrats in Congress.

It's a move that’s sending shockwaves through Virginia politics. Virginia's congressional delegation of 11 seats is made up of six Democrats and five Republicans but if Democrats

in Richmond move to redraw those districts, it could wipe out some of those seats held by Republicans.

The plan has been denounced by Republican. Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears who would preside over a special session, says it’s a ploy to take her off Virginia Republican.

Congressman Morgan Griffith tells FOX 5 the move is "underhanded."

"The Democrats have a plan to eliminate the nonpartisan districting that the voters overwhelmingly supported just a few years ago," Griffith said.

Democratic Congressman James Walkinshaw says the GOP started this effort by redistricting Democratic seats in Texas and North Carolina.

"We’ve seen Republicans across the country — neighbors in North Carolina and obviously in Texas — gerrymandering in very extreme ways, so look, we can’t take anything off the table," Walkinshaw said.