Latest news with #TexasHDC
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Obama slams Texas Republicans in statement on redistricting battle
In an Aug. 14 post on X, Obama praised the Texas Democrats, building on his initial public condemnation of Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats more than a week earlier. The former Democratic president has taken a more subdued role in politics since leaving office, and again since a brief return to the national spotlight to support his party in the 2024 election. "I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done," Obama wrote, resharing a post from the Texas House Democrats thanking him for his support. "Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do." More: Texas AG asks judge to arrest Beto O'Rourke for redistricting battle fundraising Obama first jumped into the fray in an Aug. 5 post, calling Texas Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats "a power grab that undermines our democracy." The state's battle has ballooned into a multi-state skirmish since Democrats fled their home state Aug. 3, blocking Republicans' attempts to vote on the new maps. In the days that followed, Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered arrest warrants for the Democrats who fled, and Trump suggested the FBI may have to force them back to the state. Abbot said in a statement earlier in the week that he intended to call for a second legislative session, after Texas' House and Senate signaled both chambers would adjourn on Friday, Aug. 15, due to the lack of a quorum prompted by the absent Democrats. Democratic lawmakers, such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have taken a confrontational stance toward the proposed map, with several governors hosting the Texas Democrats after they fled. Hochul said Democrats will "fight fire with fire" and counter Texas Republicans' planned redistricting, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Aug. 14 that his state would hold a special election Nov. 4 to ask voters to approve a mid-decade redistricting plan that would likely advantage Democrats in the deeply blue state. Somewhat of a map-drawing arms race has ensued, with Republican-led states such as Florida and Ohio looking to redistrict in response. 'Stand up and fight' In their post thanking Obama for attending the meeting, Texas Democrats shared a photo of the president on a large screen in front of more than a dozen attendees. I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done. Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 15, 2025 "Your words reminded us why we broke quorum: Democracy isn't self-executing. It requires us to stand up and fight for it," the caucus said in its post. "We're honored by your support." Public opinion on gerrymandering In a recent national poll, public opinion about redrawing maps, referred to as gerrymandering, appeared mixed. More than two-thirds said partisan gerrymandering should not be allowed in the YouGov/Economist poll conducted Aug. 9-11. Yet when asked if it should be allowed in retaliation to another party redrawing its maps, 35% said it would be ok, and 30% said no. Another 36% said they were not sure. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Obama calls Texas GOP redistricting an 'assault' on democracy
Former President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind Texas Democrats as the battle over redistricting continues to develop in the Lone Star state. The former president participated in a call with Texas House Democrats on Thursday, Aug. 14, and expressed his support for the delegation as most of its members remain out of state in an attempt to stymie their GOP colleagues' effort to pass a new congressional map. Their redrawing of congressional boundaries mid-decade, and not during a census year as is the norm, could add up to five more Republican seats to Congress in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections – if the measure passes. In an Aug. 14 post on X, Obama praised the Texas Democrats, building on his initial public condemnation of Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats more than a week earlier. The former Democratic president has taken a more subdued role in politics since leaving office, and again since a brief return to the national spotlight to support his party in the 2024 election. "I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done," Obama wrote, resharing a post from the Texas House Democrats thanking him for his support. "Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do." More: Texas AG asks judge to arrest Beto O'Rourke for redistricting battle fundraising Obama first jumped into the fray in an Aug. 5 post, calling Texas Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats "a power grab that undermines our democracy." The state's battle has ballooned into a multi-state skirmish since Democrats fled their home state Aug. 3, blocking Republicans' attempts to vote on the new maps. In the days that followed, Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered arrest warrants for the Democrats who fled, and Trump suggested the FBI may have to force them back to the state. Abbot said in a statement earlier in the week that he intended to call for a second legislative session, after Texas' House and Senate signaled both chambers would adjourn on Friday, Aug. 15, due to the lack of a quorum prompted by the absent Democrats. Democratic lawmakers, such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have taken a confrontational stance toward the proposed map, with several governors hosting the Texas Democrats after they fled. Hochul said Democrats will "fight fire with fire" and counter Texas Republicans' planned redistricting, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Aug. 14 that his state would hold a special election Nov. 4 to ask voters to approve a mid-decade redistricting plan that would likely advantage Democrats in the deeply blue state. Somewhat of a map-drawing arms race has ensued, with Republican-led states such as Florida and Ohio looking to redistrict in response. 'Stand up and fight' In their post thanking Obama for attending the meeting, Texas Democrats shared a photo of the president on a large screen in front of more than a dozen attendees. "Your words reminded us why we broke quorum: Democracy isn't self-executing. It requires us to stand up and fight for it," the caucus said in its post. "We're honored by your support." Public opinion on gerrymandering In a recent national poll, public opinion about redrawing maps, referred to as gerrymandering, appeared mixed. More than two-thirds said partisan gerrymandering should not be allowed in the YouGov/Economist poll conducted Aug. 9-11. Yet when asked if it should be allowed in retaliation to another party redrawing its maps, 35% said it would be ok, and 30% said no. Another 36% said they were not sure. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Obama: Texas redistricting effort ‘systematic assault on democracy'
Former President Barack Obama joined a Zoom call with Texas democrats on Thursday, calling the Republican redistricting effort in the state a 'systematic assault on democracy.' 'What we all recognize is we can't let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by,' Obama said. 'And my hope is that rather than have a race to the bottom where every district is predetermined based on how it's drawn, that over time, the American people, ideally with the help of the courts, realizes that there's a better way,' he continued. Texas democratic lawmakers fled the Lone Star State two weeks ago to break quorum and prevent a vote on a new redistricting map that would give the GOP five additional seats in the 2026 midterms. Obama encouraged the Texas Democratic lawmakers to stay strong in the face of GOP threats to have them arrested or stripped of their House seats. He posted on X, 'I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done. Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do.' Democrats announced the conditions for their return on Thursday. First, they said the Texas legislature must adjourn today and end the special session meant to vote on the gerrymandered map. Second, the California legislature must introduce its own map to counter the efforts of the Texas GOP. California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) called for a special election in November to bypass California's independent redistricting commission. With a new map, California could offset the GOP's gains by winning five more democratic seats. Newsom is pressuring New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) to do the same. The Texas House Democratic Caucus posted on X about Obama joining the call, 'Your words reminded us why we broke quorum: Democracy isn't self-executing. It requires us to stand up and fight for it.' Obama said the current threats to democracy extended beyond the gerrymandering fight. 'We're in a moment right now where not just gerrymandering, but efforts at voter suppression, efforts at questioning the results of elections, efforts at the executive branch, unilaterally doing things that bypass Congress and the people's representatives, militarization of cities, politicization of our justice departments and our military,' he said on Thursday's call. 'Those are trend lines that remind us this precious democracy that we've got is not a given.' Obama has been outspoken about the risks to democracy under the new administration. In June, he told a crowd in Hartford, Conn., that the political environment under President Trump is 'consistent with autocracies.' 'We're not there yet completely, but I think that we are dangerously close to normalizing behavior like that,' he added at the time.
