Former President Barack Obama just appeared in a new, high-stakes political ad for California Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting effort, warning that if the effort fails, Republicans could easily “rig” the next election and gain unchecked power. I honestly can’t believe how direct and urgent this is. The ad, which is only 30 seconds long, sees Obama essentially telling California voters, “the whole nation is counting on you.”
Obama makes it perfectly clear that this isn’t just about California’s state politics; it’s about the balance of power across the entire country for the 2026 midterms. This appearance is the latest move by Newsom and his allies to tout the new redistricting plan, which is going before California voters in a special election next month, per The Hill. Obama has been clear that Trump is sliding on things Obama would never get away with, and now he’s calling on people to stop the GOP.
