California Gubernatorial Primary Results
The primary for California’s governor has wrapped up, with Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton moving on to the general election in November. Most other candidates have conceded, effectively ending their campaigns.
However, the internet has been buzzing with one candidate who is raising eyebrows by announcing plans to run for president in 2028.
Barack D. Obama Shaw’s campaign gained attention during the mail-in voting phase in May. His name, reminiscent of former President Obama, stood out among the 61 candidates on the ballot—most of whom had minimal name recognition.
Shaw, who identifies as a Democrat, describes himself as a “politician, musician, and international promoter of the world’s best products and services.” It seems like quite the title, doesn’t it?
Interestingly, people had some fun with this. Some thought his candidacy was just a prank, with comments suggesting he might actually back out.
Born Cecil L. Shaw III, he changed his name in 2013, inspired by the former president. He believes this new identity symbolizes hope, claiming, “Obama made the impossible possible: someone like me can become president.”
Before this gubernatorial run, Shaw attempted to be the mayor of Alameda, receiving a mere 0.2% of the votes in that race. But he has quickly announced his desire to aim for the White House in 2028, right after the gubernatorial election.
In a rather cheeky video, Shaw quipped, “It’s said that Thomas Edison didn’t fail 10,000 times; he found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb.” His idea, perhaps, was that he was always meant to run for president, even if it took this long to realize it.
Public reactions to his presidential bid have been mixed but humorous. Comments ranged from jokes about possible running mates to disbelief that someone like him could be serious.
However, as 2028 approaches, Shaw may need to contend with more prominent figures in his own state, such as Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Representative Ro Khanna.
