From Boycotts to Ballots: How Celebrities Are Shaping the 2024 U.S. Election
In 2003, WIRK radio station in Florida took no chances. After airing a Dixie Chicks song during the late-night shift, station security escorted the host to his car, wary of threats from enraged callers. The band had sparked a national controversy after lead singer Natalie Maines publicly criticized the Iraq War and President George W. Bush, saying, “We’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.”
The backlash was swift. Boycotts followed, careers teetered, and “shut up and sing” became a popular refrain among critics. But two decades later, cultural tides have shifted dramatically. Now known as The Chicks, the band performed the U.S. national anthem at this year’s Democratic National Convention, signaling how celebrity voices have become not only accepted in politics—but expected.
“The Chicks represent the changing expectations of public figures,” said David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University. “It used to be ‘stay out of politics.’ Now it’s ‘sing—but tell us what you believe too.’”
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election draws to a close, celebrity involvement has taken center stage. From music icons to tech billionaires, both campaigns are leveraging star power in a race where every vote could count.
From Endorsements to Engagement
While there’s little evidence that celebrities change minds on policy, experts agree that they can play a crucial role in mobilizing voter turnout.
One example: when Taylor Swift endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris via Instagram in September, her post prompted over 400,000 clicks to a voter information site. A previous post in 2023 led to more than 35,000 voter registrations via Vote.org.
“Swift’s influence among young women, particularly ages 18 to 30, is significant,” said Karen Hult, a political scientist at Virginia Tech. “In such a close election, that kind of engagement could make a real difference.”
This mirrors the impact Oprah Winfrey had on Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, helping him connect with suburban women. But Democrats must tread carefully—celebrity endorsements risk reinforcing the “elitist” narrative that Republicans often deploy.
Republican candidate Donald Trump, himself a former reality TV star, mocked Harris’s supporters in a campaign email, calling them “Hollywood hacks like Oprah Winfrey and Jamie Lee Curtis.”
Celebrities at the Forefront
In the closing stretch, celebrities are visibly aligned with both campaigns. Puerto Rican stars Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Luis Fonsi have publicly backed Harris, with Lopez performing at a rally. Meanwhile, comedian Joe Rogan has spoken favorably of Trump, though he hasn’t officially endorsed him.
Perhaps the most high-profile celebrity backer of Trump is tech mogul Elon Musk, who has donated over $130 million to the campaign and Republican causes. Others in the tech space—like venture capitalists David Sacks and Marc Andreessen, and Trump’s running mate JD Vance—have joined what analysts now refer to as the “tech bro” faction of the GOP.
“These tech leaders are celebrities in their own right,” said Mark Shanahan, a political engagement professor at the University of Surrey. “To voters outside coastal elites, they represent aspiration—proof that you can become a billionaire.”
Harris has countered with her own business-world backing. NBA team owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban has joined late-stage campaign events, balancing out the influence of Silicon Valley conservatives.
The Future: Micro-Influencers and Targeted Strategy
Both experts and campaign insiders see the growing use of celebrity endorsements as part of a broader trend toward “microtargeting”—using social media influencers to reach specific demographic groups.
“This is already being called the podcast election,” noted Hult. “Influencers, more than traditional celebrities, might be the future of voter mobilization.”
LeBron James, for example, endorsed Harris just before Election Day, potentially boosting turnout among Black male voters—a demographic where Trump has made gains. James’s endorsement carries symbolic weight, especially considering he was once told by Fox News host Laura Ingraham to “shut up and dribble.”
For campaigns operating on razor-thin margins, every advantage matters.
“If Trump wins, we could see massive geopolitical shifts—pulling out of NATO, relying solely on military strength,” said Shanahan. “Democrats are using every tool they have, including star power, to stop that from happening.”
In the modern American political landscape, celebrities are no longer sidelined—they’re central to campaign strategy. And in an election that may hinge on a few thousand votes in key swing states, the voice of a singer or the influence of a podcaster might just tip the balance.
