Mailers and Billboards Stir Confusion Ahead of Election

Political ads featuring Obama and Trump raise questions about their real messages

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:05pm

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Ahead of an upcoming redistricting election, political mailers and billboards featuring former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have been stirring confusion among Virginia voters. The ads use images and past statements from the presidents that don't always match their actual positions on the issues, leading to concerns that the ads are misleading voters.

Why it matters

With hyperpartisan politics and polarized messaging, these types of misleading political ads have become a common tactic to sway voters. Experts warn they could backfire by turning off voters who see through the deception and decide to vote the opposite way.

The details

The mailers in question, sent by the Justice for Democracy PAC, feature an image of Obama alongside a quote he made in 2020 about gerrymandering, even though the quote is not specifically about the Virginia redistricting issue. Similarly, a billboard in Page County put up by the local Democratic committee features a quote from Trump about 'taking over the voting,' which critics say is taken out of context.

  • The mailers have been flooding mailboxes ahead of the upcoming redistricting election.
  • The Page County billboard appeared in February 2026.

The players

Dr. Cayce Myers

A Virginia Tech political analyst and professor of Public Relations who has analyzed the misleading political ads.

Justice for Democracy PAC

The political action committee that sent the mailers featuring Obama's quote.

A.C. Cordoza

The chair of the Justice for Democracy PAC who defended the use of Obama's quote in the mailers.

Miles Morimoto

The chair of the Page County Democratic Committee, which put up the billboard featuring Trump's quote.

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What they’re saying

“It makes it seem like Obama's position on this particular referendum is no, when it in fact is yes.”

— Dr. Cayce Myers, Virginia Tech Political Analyst

“There is no misrepresentation, plus we feel that voters are smart enough to recognize and interpret the messages and draw their own conclusions.”

— Miles Morimoto, Page County Democratic Committee Chair

“The quotes used by Barack Obama are accurate. It's how he felt when his position advantaged him, now that the shoe is on the other foot, he has changed his mind.”

— A.C. Cordoza, Justice for Democracy PAC Chair

What’s next

Experts say voters should do their own research to fully understand the context and intent behind the political ads, rather than relying solely on the messaging presented.

The takeaway

These misleading political ads highlight the growing problem of hyperpartisan messaging and the need for voters to be vigilant in separating fact from fiction when it comes to campaign rhetoric.