Obama insisted Black men vote for Harris but now stumps against Virginia’s Black lieutenant governor
Former President Barack Obama is making a significant return to the campaign trail as the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey approach their climax. With high stakes and historical implications, Obama will rally support for Democrats Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. Representative, is vying for the governorship against Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a trailblazing candidate who would become the first Black female governor of Virginia if elected. This election is particularly momentous as it guarantees the state will elect its first female governor, regardless of the outcome.
On November 1, Obama will headline a rally for Spanberger in Norfolk, having previously endorsed her in political ads that critique Republican policies. His involvement comes on the heels of controversial remarks he made last year regarding Black male voters’ support for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which drew backlash for being perceived as condescending. Critics pointed out that his comments implied a reluctance among Black men to support a female candidate, which some found offensive. This dynamic complicates Spanberger’s campaign, especially after an undercover video surfaced showing a campaign organizer disparaging the race as a choice between a “White woman who was in the CIA” and a “Black woman,” highlighting the sensitive racial and gender dynamics at play.
As the only two states holding gubernatorial elections in this off-cycle, Virginia and New Jersey are under intense scrutiny. Obama’s endorsement of Spanberger emphasizes the Democrats’ focus on critical issues like abortion rights and economic policies, as he argues that Republican governance threatens the rights of women and working families. Meanwhile, he will also campaign for Sherrill in New Jersey against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. With Obama’s legacy and influence on the line, his return to the political arena is a strategic move aimed at energizing the Democratic base in these pivotal races. As the elections draw near, both candidates will need all the support they can muster to secure victory in what are shaping up to be closely contested races.
Related articles:
– Link 1
– Link 2
Former President
Barack Obama
is heading back to the campaign trail in the final days of a pair of high-stakes gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey to stump for the respective Democrats in the cycles.
In the Old Dominion State, former CIA employee and former Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger is facing off against Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Jamaican immigrant and Marine veteran. The election comes with a handful of historic firsts, including Earle-Sears becoming the state’s first Black female nominee for governor in a race that ultimately will result in Virginia electing the first female governor, regardless of which party wins the general
election
.
Obama will head to Virginia Nov. 1 to headline a political rally for Spanberger in Norfolk after endorsing her in a pair of political ads earlier in October that took shots at Republicans.
Obama stumping for the Virginia Democrats comes just a year after he landed in hot water for insisting Black male voters support then-Vice President
Kamala Harris
‘ campaign. Now, he is calling on Virginia voters to snub the Black female candidate in favor of Spanberger.
WITH LEGACY ON THE LINE, OBAMA HITTING CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO BOOST DEMOCRATS IN KEY GOVERNOR ELECTIONS
A year ago, Obama was hot on the campaign trail for the Harris campaign, criss-crossing battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin to rally votes during the unprecedented cycle that first began with former President
Joe Biden
at the top of the ticket before he dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.
Obama scolded Black men during a campaign stop at a Pittsburgh campaign office, saying they appeared apprehensive to support a woman for president and that they should get on board with the Harris ticket.
“We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all corners of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running,” Obama said of support for Harris’ race.
“Now, I also want to say that that seems to be more pronounced with the brothers. So if you don’t mind – just for a second, I’ve got to speak to y’all and say that when you have a choice that is this clean: When on the one hand, you have somebody who grew up like you, went to college with you, understands the struggles (and the) pain and joy that comes from those experiences,” Obama said, continuing that Trump “has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person – and you are thinking about sitting out?”
Part “of it makes me think, and I’m speaking to men directly… that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”
The remark garnered pushback from some voters and groups that described the comments as “insulting” and “offensive.”
OBAMA ENDORSES SPANBERGER, ATTACKS REPUBLICANS IN VIRGINIA GOVERNOR’S RACE ADS
“The general tone of it was disgusting,” one Black male voter from Philadelphia said of Obama’s comments during an MSNBC election panel at the time. “It was abhorrent. I didn’t respect it. I didn’t like nothing about it. And Kamala, two days after that, is like, ‘We love our Black men, we have programs and things that we’re rolling out for them’ and she rolled out policy.”
Spanberger’s campaign was rocked by an undercover video showing a campaign organizer lamenting the
Virginia
race pitted a “White woman who was in the CIA” against “a Black woman.”
“CIA agent, literally, which is crazy, like yeah, vote for the CIA agent, guys, like what the f—,” a campaign organizer for Spanberger said in a video with an undercover journalist in September that was first reported by Fox Digital.
“I don’t know what happened. We’re in, like, the darkest timeline,” she continued. “Our only choices are between a Black woman, which ordinarily all for, but this time you think we should bring back slavery, Winsome.… Even with that, it’s like either vote for the Black woman who thinks that slavery should be brought back or vote for the White woman who was in the CIA.”
Only two states across the country are holding
gubernatorial elections
this off-season election in 2025: New Jersey and Virginia. Earle-Sears is the only Black candidate to run for governor out of the four major-party candidates running in either state.
OBAMA CONTINUES TRADITION OF SLOW-ROLLED POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS AS GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS HIT FEVER PITCH
Obama officially endorsed Spanberger in a pair of ads released earlier in October celebrating her abortion and tax policies.
“Virginia’s elections are some of the most important in the country this year. We know Republicans will keep attacking abortion rights and the rights of women. That’s why having the right governor matters, and I’m proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger,” Obama said in an ad released earlier in October.
“Republican policies are raising costs on working families so (that) billionaires can get massive tax cuts,” he said in another ad endorsing Spanberger.
Fox News Digital reached out to Earle-Sears’ campaign for comment on Obama’s support of Spanberger but did not immediately receive a reply.
Obama’s office did not immediately respond when approached for comment on the upcoming Virginia rally and past remarks on Black male voters.
Obama also will head to New Jersey Saturday, where he will stump for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill as she looks to defeat Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
