Former President Barack Obama has expressed support for California Governor Gavin Newsom's approach to redistricting.

The vote marked a return volley by Democrats in a national redistricting war the day after Texas approved its new map.

State Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, has been involved in two redistricting processes, once on the official state panel that decided the map. He said that while there is always a good faith effort to keep everything fair, it would be “naive” to think that politics doesn’t play a part.

Democrats are searching for a leader to take on President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced that role with new online trolling and a proposed gerrymander to counter a GOP power play in Texas.

California Democrats passed a trio of redistricting bills Thursday, a day after Republicans in the Texas House passed new maps of their own.

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom at a press conference to discuss the measures to redraw the state's Congressional districts and put new maps before voters in a special election, in Sacramento, Calif.,