Obama SLAMMED for claiming Texas redistricting is a 'power grab that undermines our democracy'

Former President Barack Obama was criticized on Tuesday after expressing opposition to Texas Republicans’ efforts to pass a new congressional district map in the state, with many users on social media noting the rampant gerrymandering on the congressional map of Illinois, where Obama served as a Senator. 

"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," Obama wrote.

In response, many posted the congressional map of Illinois, which includes a long, skinny district that cuts through the middle of the state, surrounded on both sides by red districts. 

Others noted how Obama was named in the documents declassified by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard related to the Russia Collusion hoax.

Even staunch leftist Stephen Colbert mocked Pritzker on The Late Show, pointing out how absurdly gerrymandered the state is. In response, Pritzker joked that the state had kindergarteners come in to draw the map.

Texas is currently trying to pass a new congressional district map. Democrat lawmakers in the state have fled, blocking the state House from having the quorum needed to pass the new map. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be requesting that a judge vacate the seats of those Democrat lawmakers who have not yet returned to the state to conduct business. The lawmakers have until August 8 to return before Paxton requests that the seats be vacated.

Other states have considered redistricting in response to Texas' efforts, including New York. Governor Kathy Hochul has said that she is "exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible."