Former President Obama joined a virtual meeting with Texas House Democrats who left the state to deny GOP redistricting effort, cheering on their efforts.

Even as it seems entirely inevitable that Texas Republicans will follow through on their goal of gerrymandering the state to help Donald Trump retain power in Congress through the 2026 elections, Democrats who fled the state to try to stop the measure are seeing success in how the matter has become a national issue,

Just as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred was holding a town hall near the Mexican border as part of an “unrig Texas” campaign tour, the state’s Democratic fundraising powerhouse Beto O’Rourke rallied support in Austin for lawmakers who left the state to delay a redistricting plan led by President Donald Trump.

While MSNBC "Morning Joe" hosts agreed that redistricting efforts nationwide were "bad for government," several agreed that after Texas' approved gerrymandered maps, the "arms race is on." Former President Barack Obama supported Gov.

Former President Barack Obama praised a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers for fleeing their state to stop a vote on a redistricting bill, calling their actions “inspiring."

We can’t let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by,” the former president said on a Zoom call with Texas Democrats.

Former President Barack Obama has said he is "so proud" of Texas House Democrats who have fled the Lone Star State to break quorum, preventing the passage of a redistricting bill that would likely give the Republicans another five seats in the national House of Representatives.

Former President Barack Obama is applauding Texas Democrats for leaving their state in an attempt to block the passage of a Republican-led redistricting effort.

Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives returned to Austin on Aug. 18, 2025, but their protest of redistricting efforts continues.