Former US president Barack Obama and Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, during a campaign event in Newark, New Jersey. Photograph: Adam Gray/Bloomberg
Whenever Barack Obama steps before a microphone these days, his speeches are a bittersweet reminder to Democrats that their most potent unifying force can only cheer from the sidelines.
On Saturday, the former president campaigned for Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate to become the next governor of Virginia. In 40 riveting minutes, he delivered his most outspoken appraisal of the first nine months of the Trump administration while pointing his fractured – and fractious – party towards the light.
On Tuesday night, the Democrats are hoping its candidates win both the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races. They also hope voters approve the Proposition 50 amendment to counteract Republican gerrymandering in California. In New York, socialist Democrat candidate Zohran Mamdani is on course to crush his opponent in the city’s mayoral race.
All of these individual wi
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