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Barack Obama raised concerns about electoral integrity and government politicization during his address at the Democracy Forum in Chicago, though he carefully avoided naming specific political parties when discussing these threats.

Speaking at his foundation’s third annual event, the former president emphasized the importance of protecting democratic values while warning about attempts to manipulate political power.

“There are going to be times, potentially, when one side tries to stack the deck and lock in a [long pause] permanent grip on power—either by actively suppressing votes, or politicizing the armed forces, or using the judiciary and the criminal justice system to go after opponents. In those circumstances, pluralism does not call for us to just stand back and say, ‘Well, I’m not sure that’s okay.’ In those circumstances, a line has been crossed, and we have to stand firm,” Obama declared.

Observers noted the apparent partisan undertones in Obama’s remarks, despite his nonspecific language.

The former president’s public appearances have been limited since his support for Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, which resulted in significant Democratic losses across battleground states and both chambers of Congress.

Reports suggest Obama played a significant role in promoting Harris as Biden’s replacement, though his political endorsements haven’t always guaranteed success, as evidenced by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 defeat despite his strong backing.