Obama endorses Newsom's redistricting efforts as Texas House passes its map

Former President Barack Obama on Wednesday endorsed California's redistricting efforts as the Texas state legislature debated its own congressional map, which would give Republicans the chance for five more congressional seats next year.

The Texas House passed the map in a party-line 88-52 split on Wednesday night, but it still needs to pass the state Senate and be signed by GOP Gov. Greg Abbott. 

California's Democratic state lawmakers have proposed countering Texas' map with its own redistricting effort, which would redraw congressional districts to make it more difficult for five of the state's Republicans to win reelection. State Democrats are hoping to hold a special election on the map in November. 

Obama said on social media that he does not support gerrymandering in the United States and the map fight in general, but that he had "tremendous respect" for California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's approach after Texas.

"Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas," Obama wrote on X. "But since Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House and gerrymandering in the middle of a decade to try and maintain the House despite their unpopular policies, I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this. 

"He’s put forward a smart, measured approach in California, designed to address a very particular problem at a very particular moment in time," the former president added.

Other Democratic governors have also floated redistricting efforts in their state, including leaders in New York and Illinois.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.