Democrats are turning to their heaviest hitter to convince Maryland voters to support a redistricting ballot question: President Barack Obama.

The 44th president recorded a 30-second TV ad in which he speaks directly to the camera, urging Marylanders to vote yes on Question 3, which he says will stop a “Republican power grab.”

Airing in the Baltimore and Washington television markets, as well as on digital platforms, the ad was paid for by Fight Back MD, a Democratic group pushing for Question 3. Fight Back MD is initially paying $500,000 to put the ad on air.

Question 3, if approved, would change the state constitution to make it clear requirements that districts are compact and respect natural boundaries do not apply to congressional plans. That change would eliminate legal obstacles that have blocked previous Democratic efforts, clearing the way for lawmakers to try to draw Maryland’s only congressional Republican, Andy Harris, out of a job.

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The ballot question could be the most contested item of Maryland’s general election, with polls showing voters divided and political groups spending for and against the issue.

In the Maryland Question 3 ad, Obama is seated in what appears to be a living room, in a dress shirt with an open collar. As he speaks, dramatic instrumental music swells in the background.

“You may have heard that Republicans in Washington got some states to redraw their congressional maps in the middle of an election year,” Obama says as a black-and-white photo of President Donald Trump fills the screen. “They did it to try to hold on to power in Congress.”

Obama concludes: “You can help stop this Republican power grab by voting yes on Question 3. It lets Maryland draw its own fair maps.”

Obama is selective about deploying his star power to boost fellow Democrats, and he remains a revered figure in the party. Over the weekend, thousands packed a rally in Cleveland to hear him campaign for gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown.

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The Obama ad is the latest ramp-up in the campaign over the ballot question, just over a week from Election Day.

Last week, a new group opposing Question 3 sprung up with ads mimicking the colors and logo of Gov. Wes Moore urging Marylanders to vote “yes on Wes” but against Question 3.

Moore has been pushing to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts for more than a year and is a chief proponent of Question 3. His lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Truth for Maryland Political Action Committee that paid for the ads; the ads were still running Sunday night.

Moore has put his campaign cash into the cause, pivoting from reelection ads to pay for pro-redistricting ads instead. Last week, his campaign spent $700,000 for ads in the D.C. market.

Another anti-Question 3 group, Protect Maryland Votes, as well as the Maryland Republican Party, has sent mailers urging people to vote no.

About 200,000 people had voted early through Saturday, and more than 285,000 have voted with mail ballots. Traditional Election Day looms Nov. 3.