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        From the look of the political map, it would appear that the urban/suburban areas would always dominate Virginia politics. But the reality is that even within a geographic area, the more liberal central cities (including Alexandria, Norfolk, Charlottesville, and Richmond) have conflicting interests with their suburban neighbors, including Fairfax, Henrico, Chesterfield, Virginia Beach, and Albemarle, to name a few. Similarly, rural areas are so scattered around Virginia that even though they may have lifestyle issues in common, regional differences make it difficult for them to unite. If somehow they could unite, rural Virginia would not be as minor a force on Election Day as it often appears to be. Such a joining of forces would be one way for Southside and Southwest Virginia to reverse their shrinking influence.
        It is impossible to predict future trends for certain, but it is likely that suburban growth will continue, especially in Northern Virginia. To denizens of the "real Virginia" south of the Occoquan River, Fairfax's domination of the "Political Map of Virginia" may be a bitter pill to swallow. Nonetheless, when the next political map is drawn in 2011, it is likely that Fairfax will have extended its reach again.