Presidential candidates have always courted big crowds at boisterous rallies, made the rounds on late-night shows, and produced merch (voters literally sported George Washington pins for the first-ever ), but for a long time, politicians aimed to be low-key and relatable. These days they are bona fide celebrities who walk red carpets, hawk graphic tees to adorning fans, and get standing ovations during flashy events at the same arenas where Harry Styles and Sabrina Carpenter perform. “I’m not here as a celebrity,” at a Houston rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday.
And although Bey can hardly dim her light on command, that night, the most decorated Grammy winner of all time wasn’t the main attraction. More than 30,000 had come to cheer for Harris (nearly 1.5 million signed up for a ticket), and they roared when the VP said this election would decide whether a woman has the right to “make decisions about her own body and her reproductive freedom.
” At first glance, this level of stardom for an elected official feels like a recipe for disaster. , politicians having celebrity moments is definitely making Gen Z anxious. When asked how they view candidates who are treated as or modeling themselves after celebs, only 19 percent believe it’s a good way to get attention for important issues.
Meanwhile, 39 percent are concerned the hype overshadows what really matters, and 23 percent don’t like it and say they want a serious policymaker running for office. St.
