Obama backs California’s redistricting response to new Texas maps

Former President Barack Obama is backing California’s plan to counter mid-decade redistricting efforts by Republicans in Texas.

At a fundraising event Tuesday night for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Obama said the Democratic Party needs to “respond effectively” to Republican attempts to gerrymander.

“I’ve had to wrestle with my preference, which would be that we don’t have political gerrymandering, but what I also know is that if we don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy,” Obama said at the event, which included former Attorney General Eric Holder and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker.

Republicans in the Texas House passed a bill Wednesday to redraw congressional lines that would add five more GOP seats in Congress after next year’s midterm elections.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week called on state lawmakers to pass a ballot measure to redraw congressional lines in response to new redistricting plans in Republican-led states like Texas.

After Wednesday night’s vote in Austin, Newsom said on X: “It’s on, Texas.”

While it is not prohibited, it is uncommon for states to put forward maps between decennial census counts.

Obama cited Newsom’s plan Tuesday, saying he has “tremendous respect” for the proposal, which would allow redistricting that favors Democrats.

“Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House that is effectively saying: Gerrymander for partisan purposes so we can maintain the House despite our unpopular policies,” Obama said.

“So I believe that Gov. Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach. He said this is going to be responsible. We’re not going to try to completely maximize it. We’re only going to do it if and when Texas and/or other Republican states begin to pull these maneuvers,” he said.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee echoed Obama’s support on social media Wednesday night, calling Newsom’s plan “a fair and responsible response to Trump’s unprecedented power grab.”