Obama to rally Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey in weekend campaign push before Election Day

Source: AP

Updated 12:05 AM EDT, November 1, 2025


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will headline rallies Saturday for Democrats running for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, corralling voters ahead of elections that may signal the national mood 10 months into Donald Trump’s second presidency and a year ahead of midterm elections that could reshape it.

Republicans in those states are stumping as well on the final weekend of campaigning before Tuesday’s elections, but without the national star power.

And on the west coast, California advocates are making a final push ahead of a statewide referendum over whether to redraw the state’s congressional map in Democrats’ favor. The effort backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom is part of a national redistricting battle that began when Trump urged GOP-run states to help him keep a friendly House majority in 2026.

Obama, the Democrat whom Trump succeeded when he first assumed the presidency, will appear first Saturday with Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger in Norfolk. Obama then travels to New Jersey for an evening rally with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill in Newark. Both events put the nation’s first Black president in areas where Black voter turnout is key for Democratic victories.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/obama-trump-new-jersey-virginia-governors-race-86e8607e89a103e5e7d3b70bb6fc3fae