First, there was Charli XCX’s post calling Kamala Harris, vice president at X, a “brat.” Then there was Beyoncé’s endorsement of her song, “Freedom,” for use by Harris’ campaign. And most recently, Megan The Stallion was in attendance at a Harris rally in Atlanta, along with fellow musician Quavo.
Since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee at the end of July, celebrities have poured in to endorse and support him. Some have coordinated with the campaign, and others – such as Charli XCX – have expressed their own support. Other notable names who have chimed in include billionaire Mark Cuban, rapper Cardi B and actress Jane Fonda.
These endorsements have brought a new wave of star power to the presidential election and could bring more attention, dollars and enthusiasm to the campaign Whether they’ll convince people who weren’t already open to Harris to consider him, however, uncertain.
A Bowling Green State University professor says celebrity endorsements have “little effect” on winning over voters, according to political scientists. David J. JacksonThose note that they can increase excitement for a candidate that a voter may already be leaning toward instead of persuading someone to cross party lines.
How celebrities have been involved so far
Politicians often use celebrities in an attempt to galvanize key voting groups – and those who may be less engaged. For example, Harris’ presence alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Quavo in Atlanta seemed dedicated to reaching young voters as well as black voters, both important groups expected to account for a significant proportion of the electorate this fall.
“Political candidates are leaning heavily on celebrities as a mechanism to capture the attention of this cycle’s youngest voting demographic: Generation Z,” said Melvin Williamsis a professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.
According to a 2020 Pew surveyGen Z comprised about 10 percent of eligible voters that year, and about 45 percent of those voters were non-white. A big improvement in Gen Z voting in 2020 It was also important in helping President Joe Biden secure the presidency, even though young voters have historically turned out at lower rates than other age groups. And black voters have historically been a significant proportion of the Democrats’ base 92 percent Black voters supporting Biden in 2020.
Outside of high-profile gatherings, celebrities like actors George Clooney gave interviews and wrote social media posts declaring their support for Harris. and others, such as those hosted by comedians Tiffany Haddish, Whoopi Goldberg, and Nick Offerman Virtual Fundraising RallyLike a dubbed comics for Kamala, which happened this week Such events highlight how celebrities can be key contributors to campaigns through donations and greater awareness.
Former President Donald Trump also had some celebrities speak on his behalf, including country singer Kid Rock and wrestler Hulk Hogan, both of whom attended the Republican National Convention. They described him as a “badass,” “hero” and “gladiator,” respectively, ostensibly to hype his masculine credentials and energize the crowd ahead of Trump’s appearance at the event.
And model Amber Rose, who also spoke at the RNC, was among the attendees booked with the apparent goal of broadening Trump’s appeal to black voters, after he made modest gains with the group in 2020. Black, white, gay, or straight, it’s all love,” he asserts. Like Harris, Trump has tried to connect with young voters, appearing on podcasts with Z influencers like Logan Paul and streamer Adin Ross — both of whom are young, male. There is an audience.
Celebrity endorsements can have an impact on presidential elections
If you’re one of the most famous, influential women in the world, you might have some influence in the presidential election. If not, the effect may be a little more limited.
Oprah Winfrey supports former President Barack Obama The 2008 Democratic primary is a rare example of a specific endorsement having a real, scientifically studied effect on candidate choice. According to a 2013 Northwestern University studyHis endorsement — one of only a few political statements of support he’s made — translated into an increase in voting, donations, and an estimated one million votes for Obama.
A key caveat of that study is that it focused on a Democratic primary, when voters were choosing from candidates affiliated with the same party, rather than a general election, when candidates have major partisan differences. Additionally, experts believe endorsements can provide more useful information to voters in a primary when there is a wider mix of new and familiar options. In a general election, if the candidates are more established, endorsements may be less likely to offer novel insights.
“It was a different atmosphere because it was a Democratic primary where Oprah was in that race,” the University of Wisconsin political scientist Barry Burden previously told CBS 58, A regional affiliate in Wisconsin. “So everyone participating is basically a Democrat or sympathetic to a Democrat, and that’s where an endorsement can really matter.”
That case study, though, shows how a prominent celebrity can wield their cachet. Meanwhile, less powerful celebrities are still likely to have a narrow influence. They can strengthen a candidate’s connection to a certain age group or demographic, they can get people to come forward, and they can get more people to contribute their money.
“If you suddenly see it on your social media feed or on TikTok or wherever and see that your favorite celebrity has given an interview or had a conversation with a politician, that politician is much more likely to gain traction by getting into people. attention span,” Josephine HarmonAssistant Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University, London, previously said Northeast Global News.
A Megan Thee Stallion endorsement could strengthen Harris’ credibility with her audience and add to her appeal given the singer’s popularity and influence. A fan who already leans Democrat may also be motivated to register to vote or attend a rally because of his support.
This was probably the case with endorsements made by Taylor Swift in 2018 and 2020. In 2018, Swift approval Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, and emphasized why he opposed then-Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn because of her vote for the Violence Against Women Act and her stance against marriage equality.
Swift’s 2018 post followsAccording to Vote.org, 65,000 18- to 29-year-olds are registered to vote, An uptick of non-profits imposed on his post, Note that this may involve people who would not otherwise be able to do so.
“Overall, celebrities like to think they can influence voter behavior, but they are more valuable as fundraising tools and door-openers for their followers,” David PaleologosDirector, Suffolk University Political Research Centre, told CBS 58.
In such a close election- A polling average of 538 As of Wednesday, Harris had less than 2 percentage points ahead of Trump nationally — celebrity and such marginal gains, however, could be significant. “While the effects are generally considered modest, in some swing states with a small number of voters, any effect could be significant,” Jackson told Vox.
