Stephen J. Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said that the 6th District has been redrawn last year in a way to give Republicans an even greater advantage. “The Interstate 81 corridor has always been the backbone of Virginia conservatism, and this district is red by a margin of about 2 to 1,” Farnsworth said. “The northern edge of the district used to be in the 10th, which was a far more competitive district than this one is.”