Barack Obama running for California governor
California’s crowded 2026 gubernatorial race includes 61 candidates, and one particularly odd entry is Alameda resident Barack D.Obama Shaw,who legally changed his name to “Barack Obama” in 2013 and is running as a Democrat-distinct from the former president. his campaign has already sparked memorable moments, including an incident where someone interrupted him on a street corner, accusing him of fraud because he “isn’t Barack obama.” Shaw nevertheless says he believes he can win despite facing bigger-name candidates backed by ample funding.
The article also points to other lesser-known competitors with unusual backgrounds and platforms, such as independant candidate LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott, who has worked in pest control and as a chaplain and opposes ICE raids and a vehicle miles traveled tax. With so many candidates and personalities, the contest is portrayed as resembling political theater. California’s primary is set for June 2, with the top two finishers advancing to the November general election, and term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom is discussed as an early Democratic front-runner for the 2028 White House.
California’s gubernatorial race is packed with seasoned officeholders, deep-pocketed candidates, and high-profile politicians who want the chance to lead the state. It is also home to what may be the most unintentionally entertaining ballot in America.
Among the 61 candidates running in the state’s wide-open governor’s race is Barack D. Obama Shaw — not to be confused with former President Barack Obama, a distinction Shaw apparently has to make often.
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The Alameda resident legally changed his name to Barack Obama in 2013 after becoming inspired by the former president and is now running for governor as a Democrat. His full ballot name: Barack D. Obama Shaw.
The unusual candidacy has already produced at least one memorable campaign moment.
While campaigning on a street corner in Alameda earlier this spring, Shaw was confronted by a middle-aged man who climbed out of his pickup truck, grabbed the candidate’s microphone, and yelled: “You’re not Barack Obama. You’re a fraud!”
The accusation, while technically accurate, did little to shake Shaw’s confidence, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
A tall music teacher with a slight Texas accent and a salt-and-pepper mustache, Shaw insists he has a legitimate path to victory despite competing against nationally known figures and candidates with millions of dollars in campaign cash.
“It’s definitely possible,” Shaw said of his chances of winning the governorship. “I’m stronger on paper than all these candidates with more money.”
In a state known for colorful politics, Shaw is hardly alone in standing out.
Another little-known candidate on the ballot is LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott, an independent whose resume includes pest control and chaplaincy work. DeMott is running on a platform opposing ICE raids and the vehicle miles traveled tax, adding another unexpected subplot to an already crowded race.
The sheer size of California’s gubernatorial field — and the range of personalities in it — has turned portions of the campaign into something resembling political theater.
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For voters, the result is a ballot that can occasionally read less like a traditional election and more like a reminder that in California politics, almost anything — and almost anyone — is possible.
California’s primary election is June 2. The top two finishers, regardless of party, go through to the November general election. Term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is widely viewed as an early Democratic front-runner for the White House in 2028.
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