Former President Barack Obama this week voiced his support for California’s plan to redraw its congressional districts in response to a partisan, mid-decade redistricting effort in Texas.
“I believe that Gov. Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach,” Obama told a fundraiser crowd Tuesday, according to multiple reports. “We’re only going to do it if and when Texas and/or other Republican states begin to pull these maneuvers. Otherwise, this doesn’t go into effect.”
Speaking at an event for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee at Martha’s Vineyard on Tuesday, Obama said he doesn’t feel redistricting should be a partisan issue.
“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,” he told the crowd. “They want to restrict it, and they’re not that shy about saying so.”
Trending
“That is not my preference, but we cannot unilaterally allow one of the two major parties to rig the game, and California is one of the states that has the capacity to offset a large state like Texas,” he continued.
Texas was the first state to announce redistricting plans after a request from President Donald Trump to add five more safely Republican congressional seats, kicking off a redistricting war expected to continue in coming months.
A vote on Texas’ new maps is expected on Wednesday night after a weeks-long drama in which state House Democrats fled Texas to delay a vote. They returned to the Capitol on Monday, all but guaranteeing that the new maps pass the Republican-controlled chamber.
California is expected to vote Thursday on its newly drawn congressional map designed to flip as many as five Republican-held seats to the Democrats. The measure would then face a statewide ballot measure in November.
Author
