Obama Endorses Newsom’s Counter to Texas Redistricting: “A Responsible Approach”
The former president lent his support to Gov. Gavin Newsom's retaliatory redistricting plan shortly before Republicans in Texas passed their bill to redraw congressional lines.
Former President Barack Obama is throwing his weight behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial push to counter mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas, framing it as a necessary step to protect American democracy from partisan manipulation.
Speaking at a high-profile fundraiser Tuesday night for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) — an organization founded by former Attorney General Eric Holder to fight gerrymandering nationwide — Obama argued that Democrats must not remain passive as Republicans redraw maps to lock in congressional control.
“I’ve had to wrestle with my preference, which would be that we don’t have political gerrymandering,” Obama said at the event, joined by Holder and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “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 will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”
Texas Republicans Move Aggressively
The timing of Obama’s comments was not accidental. Just one night later, Republicans in the Texas House voted to approve a mid-decade redistricting bill that could net the GOP five additional congressional seats after the 2026 elections.
Critics say the move represents a deliberate attempt to entrench Republican power in a state where demographic changes have steadily tilted voting patterns in Democrats’ favor. Texas Democrats, outnumbered in the state legislature, called the bill a “power grab” designed to drown out growing Latino and urban voting blocs.
Republicans, however, defended their plan as both legal and consistent with their duty to set district boundaries.
California’s Unusual Countermove
In an unusual step, Gov. Newsom announced last week that he would urge California lawmakers to place a ballot measure before voters allowing the state to redraw its congressional lines in direct response to mid-decade efforts like Texas’s.
“California is not going to sit back while Republican states manipulate maps to silence voters,” Newsom posted on X after the Texas vote. “It’s on, Texas.”
While mid-decade redistricting is not illegal, it is exceedingly rare. Traditionally, states redraw maps only once a decade following the U.S. census. By pursuing a retaliatory strategy, California would be breaking new ground — a move some legal experts believe could spark constitutional challenges.
Obama Signals Approval
Obama praised Newsom’s approach, calling it measured rather than reckless.
“I believe that Gov. Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach,” the former president said. “He’s not saying we’re going to maximize partisan advantage no matter what. He’s saying we’ll act if and when Republican states take these kinds of maneuvers. That’s the right way to protect the balance.”
The NDRC echoed Obama’s remarks online Wednesday night, calling Newsom’s plan “a fair and responsible response to Trump’s unprecedented power grab.”
What’s at Stake
The escalating tug-of-war underscores just how central redistricting has become to American politics. With narrow margins in Congress, even a handful of newly engineered districts could tilt control of the House.
For Democrats, the battle isn’t just about maps — it’s about the future of representative democracy itself. For Republicans, it’s about using the tools available to secure and maintain power in the face of shifting voter demographics.
Whether California’s experiment becomes a model for other Democratic-led states, or triggers a constitutional showdown, remains to be seen. But with Obama now weighing in, the issue has gained national visibility — and the next phase of America’s redistricting wars is only just beginning.
If we could appeal to voters who previously voted Republican to realize that Democrats are more likely to serve their interests then the gerrymandering wouldn’t work.
Let’s get the blue voters out there in force America!