Former President Barack Obama joined Texas House Democrats on a virtual call to commend their resistance against Republican-led redistricting efforts, which he characterized as a ‘systematic assault on democracy.’ He warned that these gerrymandering tactics undermine fair representation and democratic principles while encouraging other states to counteract similar measures.
Obama specifically praised Texas Democrats during their August 14, 2025 virtual meeting for challenging Republican attempts to redraw congressional district maps. The proposed redistricting would likely give Republicans up to five additional U.S. House seats through tactics Obama condemned as ‘fixing the game’ when political ideas fail to gain popular support.
The former president framed Texas’ redistricting battle within a broader national pattern of democratic backsliding. He connected gerrymandering to other concerning trends including voter suppression, election result challenges, executive overreach, and politicization of justice and military institutions – warning these developments threaten America’s foundational democratic principles.
Obama’s intervention came as Texas Democrats staged a weeks-long standoff to block the redistricting plan. Their tactics included denying legislative quorums during a special session, prompting Republican leaders to prepare pushing through new maps once Democrats return to the state legislature.
In response to Texas Republicans’ actions, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders have initiated their own redistricting process. Obama endorsed such countermeasures while advocating for neutral, commission-based redistricting systems that ensure fair competition between parties rather than predetermined outcomes.
The former president was joined on the call by former Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. This collaboration signals coordinated opposition to gerrymandering efforts nationwide, with Obama scheduled to headline a Martha’s Vineyard fundraiser for the NDRC the following week.
Texas Democrats indicated their standoff would conclude soon, allowing legislative proceedings to resume. Obama encouraged them to view their resistance as part of a ‘long struggle’ to protect democratic norms, while acknowledging their actions had set an important precedent for similar battles nationwide.
This intervention represents one of Obama’s most substantive political engagements since leaving office, reflecting growing concern among Democrats about redistricting’s impact on electoral fairness. His characterization of the Texas effort as a ‘systematic assault’ elevates the state-level battle to a national democracy issue with implications beyond partisan politics.