Former President Obama has expressed support for a proposal to redraw California’s legislative districts, particularly if it helps Governor Gavin Newsom counteract the newly drawn map in Texas that benefits Republicans.
“I believe Governor Newsom’s strategy is a sensible one,” Obama stated at a fundraising event for a vineyard in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Tuesday. “We’ll consider this only if Texas and other Republican-led states continue their tactics; otherwise, it won’t move forward.”
Newsom, who is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, has been at the forefront of efforts to challenge Republican attempts to maintain their legislative control in 2026.
Meanwhile, President Trump has initiated a political battle in a state dominated by Democrats, advocating for a new district map that leans more rightward. He has urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to convene state legislators for a special session to approve this map, which is aimed at increasing Republican representation and escalating conflicts with Democrats in Texas and beyond.
Newsom has called upon California lawmakers to develop strategies that bypass state zoning laws to create a more favorable map for Democrats.
Obama remarked that he personally supports nonpartisan districting but did not accuse Democrats of neglecting this principle.
“I’ve had to adjust my own preferences to avoid political gerrymandering, but it seems this White House and the Republican-controlled state government don’t embrace the idea of an inclusive democracy,” he said. “They aim to restrict it, and they’re open about that.”
Obama made these comments at a National Democratic Constituency Commission event, which successfully raised $2 million, alongside notable figures such as former Attorney General Eric Holder and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
