Obama Condemns Texas GOP Redistricting as ‘Systematic Assault on Democracy’ Amid Ongoing Legislative Standoff

Former President Barack Obama has forcefully entered the ongoing debate over redistricting, labeling Republican efforts in Texas to redraw congressional maps as a ‘systematic assault on democracy.’ Speaking during a recent Zoom call with Texas House Democrats, Obama commended their resistance to the GOP’s push to secure potentially five additional US House seats through new maps.

In a 30-minute conversation, portions of which were obtained by CNN, Obama emphasized the urgency of preventing such actions. ‘We can’t let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by,’ he stated, noting that the Texas Democrats’ courage has inspired other states, like California, to consider their own measures to counter mid-decade gerrymandering ahead of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Obama’s remarks represent his most extensive public commentary on the nationwide redistricting campaigns. Republican leaders in Texas are reportedly poised to enact new congressional maps once Texas House Democrats conclude their nearly two-week standoff, which has temporarily thwarted the GOP’s plans in a special session. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom and leading Democrats are also moving to establish new maps for next year’s elections, with a voter referendum slated for November 2025.

While advocating for non-biased, independent redistricting commissions, Obama criticized the Republican approach, arguing it’s a tactic to ‘fix the game’ by splintering Democratic voting blocs. He also drew parallels between gerrymandering and broader trends he attributed to the current administration, including voter suppression, questioning election results, and the ‘militarization of cities,’ underscoring that democracy requires constant vigilance and defense.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.