Obama Returns — and He’s Helping Newsom Rig California’s Elections

Barack Obama and Gavin Newsom are peddling a brazen power grab disguised as democracy in California, screaming about Republicans "stealing" seats while they plot to erase them wholesale.

Former President Barack Obama stars in a slick ad for Governor Gavin Newsom's Proposition 50, a ballot measure set for California's November 4 special election.

This scheme would dismantle the state's independent redistricting commission —voter-approved in 2008 — and install a Democrat-drawn map slashing Republican congressional seats from nine to five.

Republicans snagged 40 percent of the 2024 vote, yet Newsom's carve-up leaves them with scraps.

Newsom hyped the video on X Tuesday: "Listen to@barackobama."

WATCH:

“California, the whole nation is counting on you. Democracy is on the ballot November 4. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years," Obama warns in the ad. "With Prop 50, you can stop Republicans in their tracks. Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, which preserves Independent Redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide. Return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50."

Obama claims the scheme is a "reasoned and measured approach."

"Over the long term, we shouldn’t have political gerrymandering in America, just a fair fight between Republicans and Democrats based on who’s got better ideas. But since Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House and gerrymandering in the middle of a decade to try and maintain the House despite their unpopular policies, I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this. He’s put forward a smart, measured approach in California, designed to address a very particular problem at a very particular moment in time," the former president posted on X in August.

At a Martha's Vineyard fundraiser, Obama added, “We’re only going to do it if and when Texas and/or other Republican states begin to pull these maneuvers. Otherwise, this doesn’t go into effect."

California Republicans sued, blasting the plan as unconstitutional and dodging a 30-day notice rule.

The state Supreme Court greenlit it in August via Newsom's "gut and amend" sleight-of-hand.

This $250 million special election seeks voter approval for the map and a constitutional tweak allowing mid-decade redraws.

The Democratic National Committee targets Latino voters with bilingual pushes; billionaire Tom Steyer bankrolls multimillion ad blitzes.

Polls crush the scheme: A UC Berkeley–Politico survey shows 64 percent back the independent commission, 36 percent Newsom's overhaul.

Nationally, California's brawl mirrors Texas's "One Big Beautiful Map," adding five GOP-leaning districts.

Obama and ex-AG Eric Holder vow counters via their National Democratic Redistricting Committee, branding GOP moves “an existential threat to our democracy.”

Tulsi Gabbard exposed the real election-riggers: In 2016, Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Obama White House fabricated Russia collusion lies to spy on Trump Tower, rig the election against him, and frame his victory as illegitimate —straight from the Durham report's smoking gun of FBI abuses.

Democrats howl about Republican "stealing" today? What a farce.

They pulled off the heist of the century in 2020, stuffed ballots, buried scandals, and skated free without a single perp walk. Irony doesn't cut it; it's poetic justice overdue.