{"id":2605510,"date":"2026-05-21T13:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barack-obama-running-for-california-governor\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T13:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:24:24","slug":"barack-obama-running-for-california-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/barack-obama-running-for-california-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Barack Obama running for California governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbarack-obama-running-for-california-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605510&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >crowded 2026 gubernatorial race includes 61 candidates<\/a>, and one particularly odd entry is Alameda resident Barack D.Obama Shaw,who legally changed his name to \u201cBarack Obama\u201d 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 \u201cisn\u2019t Barack obama.\u201d Shaw nevertheless says he believes he can win despite facing bigger-name candidates backed by ample funding.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cyclist-transportation-secretary-wants-to-tax-americans-who-drive-cars\/\" title=\"Cyclist Transportation Secretary Wants to Tax ...ns Who Drive Cars\">vehicle miles traveled tax<\/a>. With so many candidates and personalities, the contest is portrayed as resembling political theater. California\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California\u2019s<\/a> gubernatorial race is packed with seasoned officeholders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-sees-candidate-war-chests-as-key-to-overcoming-fundraising-shortfall\/\" title=\"Republicans view candidate ... funds as vital in bridging fundraising gaps\">deep-pocketed candidates<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the 61 candidates running in the state\u2019s wide-open <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">governor\u2019s race <\/a>is Barack D. Obama Shaw \u2014 not to be confused with former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"360\">Barack Obama<\/a>, a distinction Shaw apparently has to make often.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4577623\/tiffany-henyard-wins-fulton-county-republican-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018America\u2019s worst mayor\u2019 Tiffany Henyard wins Georgia primary after switching parties<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4577315\/keisha-lance-bottoms-georgia-stacey-abrams\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Can Keisha Lance Bottoms deliver the Georgia win Stacey Abrams could not?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4576224\/janeese-lewis-george-lead-kenyan-mcduffie-dc-mayor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Janeese Lewis George holds lead over Kenyan McDuffie in DC mayor race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">SPC Barack D. Obama Shaw 2008-2016 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pnHKiYBhZC\">https:\/\/t.co\/pnHKiYBhZC<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qzOC3qIQjR\">pic.twitter.com\/qzOC3qIQjR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rev. Barack D. Obama Shaw for Gov. CA 2026 (@obamashawbarack) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/obamashawbarack\/status\/2048191157944148135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The unusual candidacy has already produced at least one memorable campaign moment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s microphone, and yelled: \u201cYou\u2019re not Barack Obama. You\u2019re a fraud!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The accusation, while technically accurate, did little to shake Shaw\u2019s confidence, the <em>San Francisco Chronicle<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/politics\/article\/barack-obama-shaw-governor-california-22253431.php\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/politics\/article\/barack-obama-shaw-governor-california-22253431.php\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s definitely possible,\u201d Shaw said of his chances of winning the governorship. \u201cI\u2019m stronger on paper than all these candidates with more money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a state known for colorful politics, Shaw is hardly alone in standing out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ocasio-cortez-endorses-progressive-maya-wiley-for-new-york-city-mayor\/\" title=\"Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Progressive Maya Wiley for New York City Mayor\">crowded race<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sheer size of California\u2019s gubernatorial field \u2014 and the range of personalities in it \u2014 has turned portions of the campaign into something resembling political theater.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4576203\/trump-wishes-spencer-pratt-well-in-los-angeles-mayoral-race\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4576203\">TRUMP WISHES SPENCER PRATT \u2018WELL\u2019 IN LOS ANGELES MAYORAL RACE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2014 and almost anyone \u2014 is possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California\u2019s primary election is June 2. The top two finishers, regardless of party, go through to the November general election. Term-limited Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) is widely viewed as an early Democratic front-runner for the White House in 2028.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California\u2019s governor race features seasoned power players-and an unexpectedly entertaining ballot, including Barack D. Obama Shaw<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2605511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274165284.jpg?w=594","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32724,37666,32923,35865,40275],"class_list":["post-2605510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-barack-obama","tag-california-politics","tag-democratic-party","tag-election-campaign","tag-gubernatorial-race"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274165284.jpg?w=594","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605510"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605519,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605510\/revisions\/2605519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}