Obama’s stern warning to Californians: “Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election”
Obama is urging voters to support Newsom’s redistricting campaign in California, and warns that next month’s special election could determine the fate of the country.
Barack Obama’s warning that the GOP wants to “steal” the 2026 election appears to be primarily driven by Republican efforts related to electoral procedures, particularly redistricting (gerrymandering).
Obama has specifically supported a ballot measure (Proposition 50 in California) designed to counter a Republican-led redistricting effort in Texas. He framed the Republican move in Texas as an attempt to “steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power.” Gerrymandering involves drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage.
His comments reflect broader concerns among Democrats and voting rights advocates about the “election denial movement” that gained prominence after the 2020 election. This movement includes efforts to:
Pass state laws making voting more restrictive (e.g., stricter ID requirements, limits on mail-in or early voting), which critics argue disproportionately impact minority and Democratic voters.
Attack the non-partisan administration of elections by targeting election officials or boards.
Advance proposals (like some elements of the “Project 2026” agenda) that could lay groundwork for questioning or attempting to overturn election results, including changes to voting equipment certification.
In essence, Obama’s warning is about a combination of systemic political maneuvers (like mid-decade gerrymandering) and rhetorical efforts (undermining confidence in the election process) that he and others believe are designed to manipulate the electoral landscape in the Republicans’ favor, rather than winning elections solely through popular support.
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