Barack Obama has quietly returned to the political spotlight, working behind the scenes to block Donald Trump’s latest move to reshape congressional districts in favor of Republicans. Reports say the former president stepped in this summer to help Democrats counter Trump’s push to redraw maps in Texas—a change that could give Republicans five additional House seats and strengthen their grip on Congress.
According to The Washington Post, Obama decided to back a counterplan that would create five new Democratic-leaning districts in California. The idea had been circulating for weeks around Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, but Obama’s endorsement gave it serious momentum.
Obama’s involvement came after several private calls with Eric Holder, his former attorney general and current head of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Both men have long spoken out in favor of keeping congressional maps nonpartisan. However, this time they agreed that doing nothing could endanger American democracy. Holder admitted that this approach went against their earlier ideals but said it was necessary to protect the democratic system.
Their discussions led to a coordinated Democratic effort. Within days, Holder wrote a public statement supporting Newsom’s plan and shared it with Obama for approval. Once Obama agreed, they began organizing support for a California ballot measure known as Proposition 50. This measure, if passed in the November 4 special election, would allow temporary changes to California’s district boundaries, balancing out Trump’s redistricting move in Texas.
If the measure succeeds, Democrats could gain five new House seats—enough to cancel out the GOP’s expected Texas advantage and prevent Trump from tightening Republican control in his second term.
Obama’s return to the political scene highlights growing concern about the direction of Trump’s leadership. Representative James Clyburn, a longtime Democratic ally, told The Post that Obama initially planned to take on a traditional post-presidency role, staying out of active politics. But, he added, “these are not ordinary times,” suggesting that Obama felt compelled to step in personally.
Throughout the summer, Obama stayed in close contact with Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Democrats debated whether the plan might violate California’s long-standing independent redistricting system. Voters had approved that system in 2008 and 2010 to keep politics out of map drawing. However, Newsom’s team argued that because the change would go directly to voters for approval, it was still within legal and ethical bounds.
In the end, both Obama and Holder agreed to support the plan. They saw it as a short-term and necessary fix to maintain fair representation. Their backing helped unify Democratic lawmakers and push Proposition 50 quickly through the state legislature.
Behind closed doors, Obama worked closely with Newsom and Pelosi to gather more support. Insiders say Pelosi told her colleagues that Obama’s endorsement immediately gave the proposal legitimacy. In early August, Obama and Newsom held a long phone conversation to plan their campaign messaging and strategy.
By late August, Obama was fully involved. When Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled their state to delay a vote on Trump’s map proposal, Obama called into their secret meeting in Illinois to thank and encourage them. “I want you all to return home knowing you’ve taken part in something important,” he told them, emphasizing that this was just the beginning of a long fight.
A few days later, during a Martha’s Vineyard fundraiser for Holder’s organization, Obama openly voiced his support for Proposition 50. “Since Texas is taking its cues from a partisan White House,” he said, “I have great respect for how Governor Newsom is standing up for democracy.”
Now, Obama is featured in television ads across California. In one, he looks directly into the camera and tells voters, “California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot November 4th.” As images of Trump and immigration raids flash across the screen, he warns, “Republicans want to take enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and hold unchecked power for two more years. With Proposition 50, you can stop them.”
Obama’s actions show he’s no longer content to remain on the sidelines. For him, this fight isn’t just about political power—it’s about protecting the foundation of the American democratic system from being reshaped for partisan gain.
