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 have struggled to find effective ways to oppose President Donald Trump, and even some Democratic voters describe the party as weak. But Trump’s push for states to redraw political maps and create more GOP-friendly House seats in time for the 2026 election has raised the stakes.

Former President Barack Obama railed against Texas for attempting a mid-decade redistricting to create more Republican U.S. House seats.

The topic of redistricting has been at the national forefront since Texas unveiled an aggressive plan to strip the Democrats of five congressional seats

"This is an effort to stifle Americans who have had enough," Texas House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu said in a press conference Wednesday. "Republicans know that their agenda and what they have done is so unpopular with not just liberals or Democrats but with all Americans that they need to cheat to rig the system so they can stay in power."

Congressional redistricting battle intensifies as California vows to counter Texas GOP maps while Democratic lawmakers end their walkout protest.