A man who legally changed his name to Barack Denzel Obama Shaw says he’s running for California governor on promises to tackle homelessness and expand housing—using a campaign built around hope, leadership, and the idea that he can carry the name without copyi
The name on the ballot will be the one that stops people mid-sentence.
Barack Denzel Obama Shaw—born Cecil Shaw III—will give California voters an unusual choice when the state holds its gubernatorial primary on June 2. Shaw legally changed his name in January 2013 during an eight-year stint in the U.S. Army Reserves, and the decision was personal long before it became political.
“Rappers always have some kind of handle. Superheroes too. Names they go by that aren’t their real names,” Shaw told Newsweek. He said he was drawn to a name that reflected what he wanted to become after high school. when people told him he reminded them of Denzel Washington. “Later on it became Barack Obama. I wanted a uniform that didn’t come off. something that’s was going to remind me of the new me: a person of hope. a person of music. a person of leadership.”.
He built that hope through family history as well. Shaw said his father was a musician who appeared on shows like Soul Train. and that his grandfather was an associate of soul music pioneer Ray Charles. The name was meant to honor both parts of his life—family and influence—along with the presidents and icons he says represent possibility. “It’s a name that represents hope,” Shaw said. “Obama made the impossible possible for people that looked like me, to become President of the United States. It was the greatest moment of my life to witness that. I want people to be able to experience that type of hope again.”.
Shaw’s campaign is arriving on a crowded stage. In addition to him, California’s primary governor’s race will include 61 candidates. The field features Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer.
Shaw said his path toward politics started in 2022, when he decided to run for mayor of Alameda. He described himself as someone who was “complaining about my country. how Black people are being treated and just different situations. ” before deciding to change the direction of that frustration. “So I took on a stance that I was going to stop complaining and start campaigning.”.
He finished third, with 6 percent of the vote. He said he came away with something he hadn’t expected: confidence. “I was able to hold my own,” he said. “I did pretty good for someone with no experience in politics.”
Now he’s aiming higher, running on three pledges. First, he says he wants to eradicate homelessness in California. Second, he wants to secure more land for housing across the state. Third, he says he would bring an additional $26 billion to the state budget.
Shaw also frames his approach as a style of governing built on respect for public communication. He said he respects the media, values communication, and wants to be a governor who prioritizes transparency and honesty in all his dealings.
His name—both the story behind it and the reference it carries—also ties back to the moment he first joined the military. Shaw made no secret that the Obama name was part of why he enlisted in 2008. saying he trusted the former president’s leadership. “trusted he would be level headed and would be starting wars all over the place. and I trusted his leadership. ” he said.
Even with Donald Trump as President of the United States. Shaw says he’s willing to work with him to get things done. “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. “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.”.
The calendar makes clear how close Shaw is to testing his message. The final primary debate involving seven leading candidates was held on May 14. After that debate, prediction markets named Becerra as the favorite to win the governorship, with a roughly 49-51 percent chance.
An Emerson survey also put Becerra in first place, polling ahead of Republican Hilton in second place and fellow Democrat, billionaire Steyer, in third.
Hilton, Trump’s pick, received a boost after a televised debate on April 28, when a SurveyUSA poll showed him leading the primary field at the time.
Under California’s system, the top two candidates from the June 2 primary will advance to the November general election.
California governor primary Barack Denzel Obama Shaw Cecil Shaw III homelessness housing $26 billion Xavier Becerra Steve Hilton Tom Steyer June 2 election