Yes, REALLY!
Barack Obama Mandela, a Republican contender in the 2024 California Senate primary, has garnered 2 percent support from likely voters, according to a recent poll. This electoral race stems from the passing of Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein in September, with Laphonza Butler appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to complete the remaining term.
California employs an open primary system, where candidates from all parties run collectively, and the two leading candidates advance to the general election, scheduled for March 5.
Born in Long Beach, California, and an alumnus of the University of California, Mandela, originally known as Mark Hardie, adopted the name Barack Obama in 2014, citing alignment with the then-American president’s name in advocating for Israel. The inclusion of “Mandela” in his name remains unclear.
Mandela reportedly converted to Reform Judaism in 1995, followed by Orthodox Judaism two years later, and subsequently served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before returning to the U.S. in 2002, where he served in the military for three years.
While there are claims, such as his IDF service and authorship of a hip-hop Bible translation, these remain unverified by independent sources.
Authoring “Black Hitler: Kobe-Lebron Goebbels Conquers America” under the alias Barack Mandela in 2014, the book, available on Amazon under the author name Mark Charles Hardie, envisions an alternate reality where the U.S. is renamed The Fourth Reich.
A Public Policy Institute of California poll, conducted between October 3 and October 19, revealed Mandela’s 2 percent support among 1,395 likely voters, placing him behind front-runners Adam Schiff and Katie Porter with 21 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
Currently, the Senate comprises 51 Democrat-affiliated senators and 49 Republicans. The decision of West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin not to seek reelection in 2024 presents an opportunity for Republicans in a traditionally red state.