President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised California’s redistricting efforts, arguing that the state’s move is necessary to combat “partisan” gerrymandering in Texas. Texas launched an effort earlier this year backed by President Donald Trump to redraw district lines to boost the number of seats Republicans hold in the House by five.

Former President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he supported a proposal by California Democrats to redraw congressional lines in response to a Republican-led push in Texas to gain additional US House seats but expressed unease with the broader effects of political gerrymandering.

Former President Barack Obama has waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agrees with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to alter his state’s congressional maps, in the way of Texas redistricting efforts promoted by President Donald Trump aimed at shoring up Republicans’ position in next year’s elections.