OAKLAND, CA ‒ Former President Barack Obama is putting more of his weight ‒ and words ‒ supporting Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed Proposition 50 redistricting plan for California, by appearing in a television commercial.

Obama, who two months ago first spoke out in support of California voters deciding on redistricting options, said in a 30-second spot that began airing statewide on Oct. 14 that democracy is in peril, urging voters to support Prop 50.

"California, the whole nation is counting on you," Obama said in the commercial that debuted approximately three weeks before Election Day. "Democracy is on the ballot Nov. 4."

The ad featuring Obama also comes days after mail ballots were sent to California’s 23 million registered voters. It is part of the Yes on 50 campaign, a multimillion-dollar strategy promoting the California congressional redistricting ballot measure through the election. Newsom is leading the effort for Prop. 50, a special mid-decade redistricting election, after President Donald Trump urged several Republican-led states, including Texas, to redraw their congressional districts to favor Republicans and maintain the majority in the U.S. House in next year’s midterm election.

"Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years," Obama said in the ad, which quickly features images of Trump, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson as well as footage from recent ICE raids.

"With Prop. 50, you can stop Republicans in their tracks. Prop. 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide. Return your ballot today," Obama continued, pointing repeatedly for emphasis during the commercial.

Obama not the only big-name politician weighing in on Prop 50

Obama is the latest politician to weigh in on the Prop 50 battle. Former California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has entered the debate, urging voters to reject Prop 50, which he believes would erode democratic principles, adding that "the true force of change lies in the power of the people."

"It doesn't make any sense to me that because we have to fight Trump, to become Trump," Schwarzenegger said during a fireside chat on democracy at the University of Southern California in September. He said both the Democrats and Republicans were causing division.

"Two wrongs don't make a right," he said.

As governor, Schwarzenegger led efforts for an independent commission to oversee redistricting in California. While his first attempt failed, voters eventually approved the reform in 2008, leading to a state law in 2010 allowing a citizens’ commission to draw maps. Schwarzenegger said that the change helped restore public confidence.

Schwarzenegger's USC comments had previously appeared in a commercial produced and paid for by a "No on 50" campaign, with significant funding reportedly coming from GOP megadonor Charles Munger Jr.

"That’s what they want to do, is take us backwards. This is why it is important for you to vote no on Proposition 50," Schwarzenegger told the audience that appeared in the ad. "The Constitution does not start with 'We, the politicians.' It starts with 'We, the people.' ... Democracy — we’ve got to protect it, and we’ve got to go and fight for it."

USC later stated that the event with Schwarzenegger was nonpartisan and that the "No on 50" campaign did not have permission to use the university event in its ad.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Democracy is on the ballot,' Obama says in new California Prop 50 TV ad

Reporting by Terry Collins, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect