In the high-stakes chess match of American democracy, Texas Republicans aren’t just moving the pawns—they’re flipping the board. Former President Barack Obama stepped into the fray this week, delivering a rallying cry to Texas House Democrats in a private Zoom call, warning against what he called a “systematic assault on democracy.”

At the heart of the battle? A GOP-led redistricting scheme designed to twist congressional maps like a pretzel—stacking the odds in favor of Republicans and silencing the voices of millions of Texans. 

Obama’s Praise for Texas Democrats: Courage in Action

Obama didn’t mince words in praising the Texas Democrats who left the state to block the Republicans’ special session shenanigans. “We can’t just stand by while democracy is under attack,” he said, applauding their “courage” in taking the fight national.

He pointed to their actions as a spark for others—California, for example, has already started taking steps to counteract mid-decade gerrymandering efforts. “My hope,” Obama added, “is that we don’t race to the bottom where every district is rigged before the election even begins.” 

Abbott’s Texas: Gerrymander First, Democracy Later

Let’s be clear—Governor Greg Abbott and his Republican allies know their ideas won’t win on merit alone. So they’re stacking the deck, slicing up Democratic-leaning communities, and packing voters into as few districts as possible.

Obama called it what it is: unfair, un-American, and a betrayal of democratic values. “That’s not how democracy is supposed to work,” he stressed, joined by former Attorney General Eric Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

The Trump-Backed Blueprint for Power

While Obama never mentioned Donald Trump by name, the shadow of Trump’s influence looms large over Texas politics. The proposed maps carry the Trump stamp—engineered to consolidate Republican power, undermine minority voting strength, and sideline dissent.

And the power grab doesn’t stop at the ballot box. Obama warned of voter suppression, the militarization of cities, and politicization of justice under the current GOP leadership. “This precious democracy isn’t self-executing,” he said. “It requires us to fight for it.”

Democrats’ Long Game: Fair Maps, Fair Elections

Obama reminded the group that when voting rights are protected and districts are drawn fairly, everyone wins—not just one party. He urged Democrats to see this fight as part of a larger, long-term movement to ensure that rules are fair for all, and that political competition is decided by voters—not by a governor’s pen or a party’s backroom map-drawing.

“You’ve helped set the tone for a long struggle,” Obama told the Texas delegation. “And I’m grateful for it.”

The Stakes for 2025 and Beyond

Houston Style Magazine readers, with Texas poised to add multiple congressional seats due to population growth, fair maps are not just a procedural issue—they are the difference between representation and disenfranchisement for millions.

Democrats know the truth: if Abbott and Trump’s allies succeed here, the ripple effect will embolden similar schemes nationwide. Texas is not just a battleground; it’s the front line in the war for American democracy.