Barack D Obama Shaw Runs Among 61 California Candidates
Barack D Obama Shaw of Alameda is among 61 candidates running for governor in California, bringing a familiar name onto a crowded ballot. He said he legally changed his name in 2013 out of respect and admiration for former President Barack Obama, and that the name also honors Denzel Washington.
Alameda Theater and the ballot
Shaw, who works at the Alameda Theater, has spent years building a public profile through local music and community work. He hosts Alameda’s Got Talent and teaches kids to play music, while his campaign now centers on reducing homelessness, expanding housing opportunities and increasing state revenue.
His name draws attention because it matches that of former President Barack Obama, but Shaw said the choice was personal and predates his political campaign. He told Spectrum News, “He made it happen that a person like me could become president.” He also said, “And the word on the street was it’s not going to happen in our lifetime.”
From Cecil Shaw III
Before becoming Barack Denzel Obama Shaw, he spent eight years in the U.S. military reserves. He said his father was a musician who appeared on Soul Train in the 1970s, and that his grandfather was mentioned as an associate of Ray Charles in his autobiography. Shaw said, “My name represents Obama, Denzel, my father, my grandfather and myself is what it is,”
His first statewide run follows a 2022 city mayor race, when he said he entered politics because he wanted to make a difference, especially among Black people. He finished third with 6% of the vote, then launched his bid for governor.
Trump and California voters
Shaw has also said he is open to working with President Donald Trump despite disagreeing with his policies. “What I learned from the military is you respect the rank…even if you don’t like the person, you always respect the rank, and that’s something I still do to this day. I respect the rank, the title of this is President of the United States,” he said. He added, “Now, I don’t like what the man is saying, or the thing he’s doing, but he is the President, and so even if he’s not respecting it himself, I’m still going to respect that rank.”
For California voters, the practical effect is simple: Shaw is one name in a 61-candidate race, and his ballot presence adds another recognizable figure to an already crowded contest. The race now asks voters to sort through a long list of candidates while Shaw leans on his biography, military service and local work rather than a familiar political family name.
