News/Commentary

Obama puts his seal of approval on Newsom’s gerrymandering scheme

August 21, 2025 | | Print Article

California Gov. Gavin Newsom got a seal of approval from former President Barack Obama, who praised his “smart” and “measured” redistricting plan.

Newsom got some wind under the sails of his 2028 presidential aspirations as Obama, who already sang his praises at a fundraiser earlier this week, publicly declared his ” tremendous respect” for the Democrat and his current gerrymandering efforts.

“Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas,” Obama wrote in a social media post.

“But since Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House and gerrymandering in the middle of a decade to try and maintain the House despite their unpopular policies, I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this,” he continued.

“He’s put forward a smart, measured approach in California, designed to address a very particular problem at a very particular moment in time,” Obama added.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former president applauded Newsom’s “responsible” plan while at a fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts this week.

“I believe that Gov. Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach. He said this is going to be responsible. We’re not going to try to completely maximize it,” Obama said, according to the Associated Press. “We’re only going to do it if and when Texas and/or other Republican states begin to pull these maneuvers. Otherwise, this doesn’t go into effect.”

Obama claimed he does not prefer “political gerrymandering” but warned that if Democrats “don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”

According to the AP:

In California — where voters in 2010 gave the power to draw congressional maps to an independent commission, with the goal of making the process less partisan — Democrats have unveiled a proposal that could give that state’s dominant political party an additional five U.S. House seats in a bid to win the fight to control of Congress next year. If approved by voters in November, the blueprint could nearly erase Republican House members in the nation’s most populous state, with Democrats intending to win the party 48 of its 52 U.S. House seats, up from 43.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Newsom and Democratic leaders say they’ll ask voters to approve their new maps only for the next few elections, returning map-drawing power to the commission following the 2030 census — and only if a Republican state moves forward with new maps,” AP reported.

Obama seemed to approve of that plan.

“And we’re going to do it in a temporary basis because we’re keeping our eye on where we want to be long term,” he said. “I think that approach is a smart, measured approach, designed to address a very particular problem in a very particular moment in time.”

Democrats may be cheering each other on, but many X users weighed in on Obama’s gerrymandering endorsement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Frieda Powers
Latest posts by Frieda Powers (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles