The amendment passed the Democrat-led Senate in a 21-16 vote, allowing Virginia to redistrict mid-decade if another state redraws their congressional maps before the end of the decade, The Hill news outlet reported. The constitutional amendment was passed Wednesday in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Virginia's push to redraw congressional maps is the latest chapter of a tussle among states to gain advantage for their majority party.

The Democratic-led Virginia House of Delegates voted on Wednesday to amend the state constitution to allow legislators to redraw Virginia's congressional maps next year, heightening a multistate, mid-decade redistricting war spawned by President Donald Trump.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to provide hunger relief for Virginians as the ongoing federal government shutdown threatens the release of November SNAP benefits.

The proposed amendment came hours after debate in the Virginia Senate, in which lawmakers reiterated support for previously created redistricting commission.

WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Thursday to help maintain food aid for state residents as a three-week-long U.S. government shutdown threatens to halt federal benefits.