Barack Obama Is Running for CA Governor, But It’s Not What You Think

California voters will hit the voting booth for a highly anticipated primary election on Tuesday. But as voters skim through the more than 60 candidates who’ve launched their bid for governor, they may be shocked to see a familiar name on the ballot: Barack Obama.

Before you pack your bags and head West, we should tell you that the former president is not campaigning to become the governor of California. Instead, another Black man is in the running, and his name just so happens to be Barack Denzel Obama Shaw.

This is more than just a simple coincidence, however. According to Newsweek, Obama Shaw was actually born Cecil Shaw III, but in January 2013 – the same month President Obama was sworn in for a second term – he made the bold decision to legally change his name to honor the first Black president and another notable Black man.

“When I got out of high school, people used to say to me, ‘You remind me of Denzel Washington,’” Obama Shaw told the outlet. “Later on, it became Barack Obama. I wanted a uniform that didn’t come off, something that was going to remind me of the new me: a person of hope, a person of music, a person of leadership.”

It’s no secret that former President Obama’s historic bid for president inspired countless tributes in the form of statues and murals. The names Barack and Obama even saw an uptick beginning in 2008, with 16 babies being named Barack in 2016 alone, according to NBC News and Refinery29. Now, Obama Shaw hopes to carry on the legacy of the former president as the leader of California.

“It’s a name that represents hope,” he said. “Obama made the impossible possible for people that looked like me to become President of the United States. It was the greatest moment of my life to witness that. I want people to be able to experience that type of hope again.”

He’s running on three main pledges: end homelessness in the state, bring more housing and an additional $26 billion to California’s budget.

Obama Shaw, an Army Reserve veteran and the son of a Soul Train musician, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Alameda in 2022. But now, he’s hoping to replace current Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. First, he has to get through a very crowded primary race.

There are currently 61 candidates vying for Newsom’s title, including Democrats Obama Shaw, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (who is leading several polls) and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer.

Several Republicans are also in the running. Most notably, Steve Hilton, the former Fox News contributor endorsed by President Donald Trump, is also a competitive candidate.

The primary showdown is set for Tuesday (June 2).