Barack Obama is expected to make his return to the campaign trail in the fall, on behalf of Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam. | AP Photo Obama returns to politics with redistricting group fundraiser

Barack Obama will make the first official political move of his post-presidency on Thursday, headlining a private fundraiser for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee at a private home in Washington.

The event, which will also be attended by NDRC chair Eric Holder and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, is to support the group he’s helping back to coordinate Democratic efforts in state races and lawsuits to push back on Republican success in gerrymandering over many cycles. In many statehouses and Congress, that’s left Democrats at a baked-in disadvantage.


Obama oversaw massive losses for his party in state legislatures and in the House during his presidency, but has said tackling redistricting is a major political priority after leaving the White House. So far since he walked out of the Oval Office in January, he’s been circumspect in his political involvement—and aside from releasing several statements in defense of Obamacare, he’s kept his political activity to making calls to Democratic National Committee members in support of Tom Perez’s chair bid and throwing a steady stream of subtle digs at President Donald Trump in paid and public speeches.

Holder has kept in touch with him about the NDRC plans, and briefed him formally at a meeting in the spring.

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"The National Democratic Redistricting Committee is proud to have the support of President Obama as we work to undo gerrymandering and create fairer representation in our democracy,” Holder said.

Obama is expected to make his return to the campaign trail in the fall, on behalf of Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam.

