Obama reportedly said the California redistricting plan, which is being proposed in response to a Texas redistricting that could add five GOP seats in the U.S. House, would only be used if Texas Republicans follow through with the new congressional map.

California’s Democratic Legislature is expected to counter Texas’ mid-decade redraw of its congressional map with one of its own.

Former President Barack Obama is in favor of California’s redistricting plan. The former president threw his support behind the effort while the state legislature continues to advance bills to convene a special election in November, when voters would decide whether to implement congressional maps for the next three elections.

The former president said that what Texas Republicans are doing requires an equally aggressive response from Democrats.

Texas Republicans are triumphant after a success in their efforts to redraw the state’s congressional maps, but California Democrats are set to make their move.

They want to do this by passing a state constitutional amendment via a ballot initiative during the 2026 general election.

California state lawmakers have started a series of legislative hearings to advance a partisan plan aimed at winning Democrats five more House seats.