Obama Endorses Democrats Sherrill in NJ, Spanberger in VA Gov. Races/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. His endorsements arrive as Democrats aim to energize voters ahead of critical elections in November. With early voting underway, both parties are closely watching these races as a gauge for 2026 midterm momentum.
Obama Endorses Sherrill and Spanberger: Quick Looks
- Barack Obama released digital ads endorsing Mikie Sherrill (NJ) and Abigail Spanberger (VA)
- The races are the only two governor contests in 2025
- Sherrill is up against Trump-backed Republican Jack Ciattarelli
- Spanberger faces Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears
- Obama criticized GOP stances on taxes and abortion
- The endorsements come amid Democratic concerns over turnout and fundraising
- New Jersey and Virginia hold early in-person and mail-in voting
- Republicans dismissed the Obama backing as “desperate”
Deep Look
Barack Obama Enters the Arena in Crucial Gubernatorial Races
Former President Barack Obama has stepped into the political spotlight once again, offering endorsements to two key Democratic candidates in the 2025 gubernatorial elections. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia received the backing of the two-term Democratic leader in a pair of digital campaign ads released this week. The move signals an attempt by the Democratic Party to energize its base and shift the momentum in two states with competitive races.
The New Jersey and Virginia governor’s races are the only ones on the ballot this year, placing national focus on both as early indicators of voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats hope to claim victory in both contests to regain confidence and recover from internal divisions and low fundraising numbers that followed Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Obama’s Strategic Support
Obama’s endorsement of Spanberger includes a direct message on the stakes involved. In the ad, the former president criticizes Republicans for supporting tax cuts for the wealthy and working to curtail abortion rights, calling the Virginia contest “one of the most important elections in the country this year.”
Spanberger, a former CIA operative and three-term member of Congress, is facing Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who is aligned with Trump but has yet to secure his formal endorsement. Obama’s involvement could energize suburban and moderate voters who previously supported Spanberger during her congressional terms.
In New Jersey, Obama lends his support to Mikie Sherrill, highlighting her biography as a mother, Navy veteran, and former federal prosecutor. Sherrill is taking on Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who previously served in the state Assembly and has been endorsed by Trump. The former president hosted a tele-town hall to support Ciattarelli before the GOP primary and is expected to do so again in the final weeks of the campaign.
Democratic Pressure and Strategic Timing
With both races considered bellwethers for national politics, Democrats are under pressure to deliver wins. Obama’s support comes at a pivotal time as early in-person voting has already begun in Virginia, and mail-in ballots are being returned in New Jersey, where early voting begins next week.
Democrats are banking on the former president’s popularity and influence to boost turnout, particularly among younger and moderate voters who may be less motivated by the current state of party politics.
In recent months, the Democratic Party has struggled to unify following Harris’ defeat. Questions about strategy, direction, and grassroots engagement have loomed large, and the endorsements from Obama are viewed as an attempt to bring cohesion and clarity to the party’s message heading into 2026.
Republican Response and Campaign Dynamics
Republicans, for their part, have brushed off the endorsements. Peyton Vogel, spokesperson for the Earle-Sears campaign, called the move “a desperate play” and accused Spanberger of relying on “liberal elites” to rescue her campaign. The comment reflects the GOP strategy of casting Democrats as out-of-touch with working-class and independent voters.
Nevertheless, Spanberger’s campaign expressed gratitude for Obama’s backing, viewing it as a major vote of confidence from a Democratic standard-bearer. Her team is focusing on healthcare, reproductive rights, and middle-class tax relief as central themes.
Sherrill, meanwhile, is running in a state where Democrats hold a voter registration edge. But New Jersey has a history of swinging between parties in gubernatorial contests. In 2021, outgoing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy narrowly defeated Ciattarelli, revealing how competitive the state can be even for Democrats.
Trump’s improved performance in New Jersey during the 2024 election further raises concerns for Democrats about complacency or lower-than-expected turnout. The Sherrill campaign is leaning heavily on personal narrative and security credentials to court moderate and independent voters.
What’s at Stake
For Democrats, a win in both states could serve as a rallying point and set the stage for the 2026 midterms. For Republicans, flipping Virginia and keeping New Jersey competitive would bolster Trump’s claim to leadership and the GOP’s legislative agenda.
Both races are also important symbolic tests of whether Trump-aligned candidates can win in states that have traditionally leaned blue in federal elections.
As voting continues, all eyes will be on turnout. Democratic strategists believe that Obama’s involvement can help cut through voter fatigue and reenergize a fractured base.
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