Former President Barack Obama on Thursday joined a virtual meeting with Texas House Democrats who left the state to deny Republicans the ability to pass newly drawn GOP-favorable congressional maps, cheering on their efforts and stressing their work comes at a critical time in the fight against partisan gerrymandering.

ABC News is first to report on the meeting and its contents.

Former President Barack Obama speaks to a group of Texas House Democrats on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Illinois. Texas House Democratic Caucus

"We can't let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by and so because of your actions, because of your courage, what you've seen is California responding, other states looking at what they can do to offset this mid-decade gerrymandering," Obama told

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