Dear Editor, This is my final letter before voters head to the polls, and I will be direct. There are only days left before an election that could significantly reshape representation across the Commonwealth.

If this referendum passes, the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula would be placed into a congressional district anchored in Northern Virginia. Fairfax County is one of the largest population centers in the state, and under proposals like this, Northern Virginia would have substantial influence in multiple congressional districts. That should concern every rural voter who wants their voice to matter. Congressman Don Beyer has publicly indicated his interest in running in the proposed district and has scheduled a campaign stop in Montross shortly after the election.

We are not the same as Northern Virginia, and we should not be treated as an afterthought. Our communities are rural, community driven, and built on priorities that deserve to be represented, not overshadowed.

There has also been significant money poured into this effort statewide. That alone should tell you how important this vote is and how closely it is being watched. This will come down to turnout.

And let’s be honest about something else. There is nothing temporary about changing a constitution. Once it is done, it is done. You are not voting on a short term fix. You are voting on a long term structural change.

So I will ask a simple question. Do you really expect elected officials to willingly give up their seats or influence after 2030? That is something every voter should think about carefully before casting a ballot.

This is the moment. If you sit this one out, you are giving up your voice in a decision that will have long term consequences.

I am asking you plainly. Do not wait. Do not assume others will carry the load.

Get out and vote. Vote NO on or before April 21. Very Respectfully, -Jeff McCormack Chairman, Westmoreland County Republican Committee