Former President Barack Obama said running away from your job and subverting democracy was “inspiring” this week.
Obama praised Texas Democratic lawmakers for fleeing their state to use a loophole to stop a vote on a redistricting bill and “lauded their fight” during a Zoom meeting with the group.
Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, who is chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, posted on X on Thursday, thanking Obama for meeting with the lawmakers via video conference.
Wu said the Democrats were “encouraged” by Obama’s words and “remain committed to fighting for democracy, in Texas & across the country.”
An Obama spokesperson confirmed the meeting and said the former president “lauded their fight against the Republican efforts to enact an even more egregious gerrymander in Texas ahead of the midterms.”
Obama “made clear that they are part of a bigger effort to protect free and fair elections and commended them for inspiring others with their actions” by fleeing their jobs.
Over 50 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives left the state and hid from authorities to deny the legislature the legal quorum necessary to pass the redistricting bill backed by President Donald Trump. Democrats are afraid the measure would likely give the GOP five additional congressional seats.
Texas Republican leaders have were forced to file legal action to compel the hiding lawmakers to return and have threatened to remove them from office if they continue refusing to participate in the legislative process.
Obama has previously voiced support for the Texas Democrats, saying in an Aug. 5 X post, “We can’t lose focus on what matters – right now, Republicans in Texas are trying to gerrymander district lines to unfairly win five seats in next year’s midterm elections. This is a power grab that undermines our democracy.”
“Having President Obama speak with us and support us is proof that when Texas House Democrats stand up and fight back, we don’t stand alone — we have the support of Democrats at every level who understand that when Republicans attack voting rights in Texas, they’re attacking the foundation of our democracy everywhere,” Wu later said.
“The fact that we have to meet President Obama from an undisclosed location and via Zoom because of Republican threats and surveillance only proves how desperate Abbott and his extremist allies have become,” Wu said. “They know their racial gerrymandering scheme is falling apart, so they’re resorting to intimidation tactics. But President Obama’s support shows the whole country is watching — and Texas House Democrats won’t be silenced by bullies.”
On Thursday, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to have his state redraw its districts to eliminate all the Republican seats.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shot back that if California eliminates all its Republican districts, Texas should do the same, which would leave the GOP with a net gain.
Democrats have historically benefited nationally from heavily gerrymandering blue states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and California.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has authorized state law enforcement to track down and return the Democrats to the state capitol. The governor had suggested that Democrats could face arrest upon their return to Texas. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked a judge to arrest former Rep. Beto O’Rourke for illegally fundraising to support the Democrats in hiding.
The redistricting battle comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic leaders in other states have offered support to the Texas Democrats, who have scattered across multiple states including Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.