On Monday’s Chris Jansing Stories on MS NOW, only a day earlier than the Virginia redistricting poll measure, Jansing questioned why there was confusion amongst voters amid competing advertisements that used statements from former President Obama, the place the anti-redistricting teams had used Obama’s previous statements towards gerrymandering to help the Republican trigger. Visitor Maya Rupert, a former presidential marketing campaign supervisor for Democrat Julian Castro, mentioned the GOP was “weaponizing Jim Crow” by way of “focused misinformation” towards black voters
The Virginia Redistricting measure would gerrymander Virginia’s congressional districts to a ten-to-one illustration of Democrats within the state from their present six-to-five benefit.
Jansing launched the subject to Rupert and identified confusion amongst Virginia voters. The principle subject of the dialog was competing advertisements from professional and anti-redistricting teams that have been used for his or her respective sides.
On Monday, MS NOW’s Chris Jansing Stories identified confusion amongst Virginia voters forward of the Redistricting referendum amid competing Obama advertisements.
Visitor Maya Rupert referred to as the utilization of Obama’s personal phrases towards him as “weaponizing Jim Crow.” pic.twitter.com/JdP0GT9m9u
— Nick (@nspin310) April 20, 2026
After Jansing performed the pro-redistricting advert from Obama, she described – however didn’t play – the Republican advertisements towards gerrymandering:
So, that’s one advert. However Republicans have been airing some previous sound of Obama the place he raises issues about redistricting, after which the advert says “vote no.”
Jansing continued, “When you add that to falling ballot numbers for the Democratic governor, Spanberger, how nervous ought to Democrats be that voters will not know what they’re purported to do, assuming they really go?”
Rupert responded with fear and blamed it on “misinformation” that has focused Black voters:
And, you recognize, to be clear, teams have been focusing on particularly black voters in Virginia with an effort to confuse this subject and get folks to both not present up or vote towards what, you recognize, type of, to vote, considering that that is saying one factor and it really says one thing else.
Obama made statements up to now towards gerrymandering, and apparently, based on Maya Rupert, if one used previous phrases towards him, you have got focused black voters with confusion?
She went on to say this was the brand new “playbook that Republicans are planning on utilizing transferring ahead, that misinformation, however focused misinformation, going after marginalized communities, going after black voters to attempt to sow confusion so as to swing the route of a few of these votes.”
In her last phrases, she mentioned the advertisements that used Obama’s personal phrases towards him invoke Jim Crow:
I am considering this turns into the playbook transferring ahead, and we have now to be vigilant in regards to the info that’s attending to voters, particularly marginalized voters, particularly black voters, as a result of they’re weaponizing a historical past of Jim Crow and different efforts to maintain black voters away from the polls so as to do that. And that must be deeply regarding to all of us who care about democracy.
When all else goes away, Democrats should at all times examine issues to Jim Crow.
The final word confusion of the redistricting saga in Virginia had been dominated by Democrats and their message shift to develop into, magically, pro-gerrymander. It must be famous that the confusion was deliberate by Democrats of their write-up on the referendum invoice and poll measure query.
The transcript is beneath. Click on “increase”:
MS NOW’s Chris Jansing Stories
April 20, 2026
12:54:58 PM Japanese
(…)
CHRIS JANSING: So, Maya, voters say they really feel confused in Virginia about what it means to vote sure or no. I need to present you the present advert that options former President Barack Obama.
[Cuts to video]
FMR. PRESIDENT OBAMA [FROM PRO-REDISTRICTING AD]: By voting sure, you have got an opportunity to do one thing essential, not only for the commonwealth, however for our complete nation. By voting sure, you’ll be able to push again towards the Republicans making an attempt to present themselves an unfair benefit within the midterms. By voting sure, you’ll be able to take a short lived step to stage the enjoying discipline.
[Cuts back to live]
CHRIS JANSING: So, that’s one advert. However Republicans have been airing some previous sound of Obama the place he raises issues about redistricting, after which the advert says “vote no.” When you add that to falling ballot numbers for the Democratic governor, Spanberger, how nervous ought to Democrats be that voters will not know what they’re purported to do, assuming they really go and vote?
MAYA RUPERT: I feel everybody must be very nervous. And I can be clear, not nearly this, however this sort of misinformation. And, you recognize, to be clear, teams have been focusing on particularly black voters in Virginia with an effort to confuse this subject and get folks to both not present up or vote towards what, you recognize, type of, to vote, considering that that is saying one factor and it really says one thing else. These sorts of efforts ought to concern us deeply, as a result of what that is doing is displaying us the playbook that Republicans are planning on utilizing transferring ahead, that misinformation, however focused misinformation, going after marginalized communities, going after black voters to attempt to sow confusion so as to swing the route of a few of these votes.
They’re laying out the blueprint and saying that that is what they are going to be doing. I feel that for tomorrow, plenty of work is being put in. I do assume that individuals must be taking it significantly. There’s plenty of urgency. Present up and vote. However greater than I am considering particularly about this, I am considering this turns into the playbook transferring ahead, and we have now to be vigilant in regards to the info that’s attending to voters, particularly marginalized voters, particularly black voters, as a result of they’re weaponizing a historical past of Jim Crow and different efforts to maintain black voters away from the polls so as to do that. And that must be deeply regarding to all of us who care about democracy.
(…)
