Former President Barack Obama praised Texas Democrats who left their state to block the passage of a GOP-led redistricting proposal. Former President Barack Obama is applauding Texas Democrats for leaving their state in an attempt to block the passage of a Republican-led redistricting effort.

Two prominent Democratic governors also warned they were ready to trigger redistricting in their states if Texas' off-cycle remap proceeds.

A partisan move by Texas to redraw its congressional maps in the middle of the decade to secure five more GOP seats in the U.S. House set off a clamor to replicate the effort in statehouses controlled by both parties.

California is stepping into a national redistricting battle after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw maps to maintain their U.S. House majority