Although the California gubernatorial race in 2026 has concluded, a lesser-known candidate continues to attract attention by announcing his bid for the US presidency in 2028.

That person is Barack D. Obama Shaw, a Democratic candidate who appeared on the California gubernatorial ballot with a name that surprised many voters due to its resemblance to former President Barack Obama.

Shaw was among 61 candidates who participated in the California gubernatorial race. However, he only secured 16,522 votes, accounting for approximately 0.2% of the total.

According to Globe Magazine, Shaw's birth name was Cecil L. Shaw III, but he legally changed it to Barack D. Obama Shaw in 2013. He stated that this decision stemmed from his admiration for former President Obama.

“Obama made the impossible possible for people like me, to become President of the United States,” Shaw once shared.

Immediately after his defeat in the gubernatorial race, Shaw announced he would enter the race for the White House in 2028.

In his campaign announcement video, he compared himself to the inventor Thomas Edison.

“They say Thomas Edison didn't fail 10,000 times. He just found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb. Perhaps I was running for president all along; I just hadn't realized it yet,” Shaw said.

The campaign announcement quickly spread on social media, where many reacted with humor. Some comments suggested they had seen his name on the ballot but thought it was a joke.

Despite officially declaring his candidacy, Shaw is expected to face many more prominent Democratic figures if he enters the 2028 race, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Representative Ro Khanna.

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