Obama Warns GOP Wants To 'Steal' 2026 Election In Ad For California Redistricting

Former President Barack Obama is urging voters to support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting campaign in California, warning that next month’s special election could determine the fate of the country.

“California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot Nov. 4,” Obama said in the 30-second ad that began airing Tuesday.

“Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. With Prop 50, you can stop Republicans in their tracks.”

Newsom launched his redistricting campaign earlier this year to counteract Texas and multiple other GOP states redrawing their congressional lines mid-decade to defend the Republican House majority in next year’s elections. Typically, congressional redistricting has occurred once every 10 years. If approved, the California redistricting campaign would target five GOP lawmakers in the state.

With less than a month to go until California decides on Prop 50, several polls have shown that a majority of voters in the state support the ballot measure. Democrats also have a spending advantage in the showdown.

Republicans, meanwhile, are looking to eke out gains with redistricting efforts in states such as Indiana, Kansas and North Carolina.

Obama previously praised Democrats’ strategy on redistricting at a fundraiser in August. While noting that “political gerrymandering” is not his “preference,” Obama said that, if Democrats “don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.”