This Week, Kamala Is a Bigger Celeb Than Beyoncé–and I’m Here for It
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 inauguration), 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,” Beyoncé told the crowd 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. According to a Cosmopolitan survey, 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.
Still, 68 percent believe that social media can help a candidate win an election—and I’d argue we need these high-profile pols to post far and wide. In 2024, we are so perpetually online, politics have become so toxic, and electoral issues so complex and wide-ranging that a healthy dose of accurate, accountable information could help simplify politics for the masses in some important ways. As Congress languishes in partisan gridlock—in the ’70s and ’80s, it passed an average of 600 bills per term; now that number is in the 300s—I say, let’s cheer on celebrity politicians when they advocate for causes that advance our rights, improve people’s lives, and uphold democracy.
Sure, the possibility that this will dumb down platform discussions is a valid worry for Gen Z. But politicians with star power can get people on board with some of the most meaningful issues facing our generation. Take Barack Obama passing the Affordable Care Act and bringing health care to millions or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez protesting for climate change in Nancy Pelosi’s office.
They could also get Gen Z to the polls. Just 48 hours after Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Kamala HQ’s robust social campaign launched alongside Charli XCX’s “Kamala IS brat” tweet and nearly 40,000 Americans registered to vote. More than 80 percent of those new voters were 18 to 34 year olds. That’s enough people to swing an entire state—and could absolutely turn the tide this election.
While critics question whether this kind of devotion is superficial or bad for democracy, some of the 41 million potential Gen Z voters are definitely embracing the trend. Take it from Holly Brascia, a 22-year-old from Illinois who is planning on casting a ballot next week. She acknowledges that Harris’s meme-heavy online presence could seem “inappropriate” to critics but doesn’t mind if the current VP has some red carpet moments. “We have bigger fish to fry when analyzing what makes a good leader right now,” she says. “Harris’s social media strategy shows that she understands and can communicate with the younger demographic. She is in on the joke rather than being the punchline.”
And just to be clear, there’s a stark difference between calling a politician a celebrity and blindly worshiping someone who was charged with conspiring to overturn an election. Let’s be engaged fans, not bigoted cult followers. There’s a huge difference between wearing a T-shirt or posting a meme and promoting violent populism by storming the Capitol when you lose.
Showing public support for a candidate doesn’t mean you’re not serious about advocating for change. For those of you thinking, I don’t agree with Harris on gun control, immigration, or the Middle East, so I’m not going to tote her merch, I’d remind you that in our current system, we hold our noses at the ballot box and vote for the better of two often disappointing candidates. Those “Hotties for Harris” or “Swifties for Kamala” shirts can inspire conversations and be the swag of an informed voter, not just someone with an Instagram account and a parasocial relationship with VP candidate Tim Walz. (Oh and by the way, we should definitely be holding celebrities accountable when they express loathsome opinions or do toxic things too.)
So if the coconut memes drew you to politics, welcome! Every die-hard Swiftie had their first brush with a “Taylor’s Version” release or their first concert. The same goes for your first time watching a live debate or national convention. Now, it’s time to prove you’re a true fan—not of Kamala, Trump, or Walz, but of democracy, equity, progress, and an involved electorate.
Engagement is what will drive change and if we’re gonna get there by following politicians in the run-up to November 5—cheering like Beyoncé fans at the Renaissance Tour—we need to bring that same energy after the inauguration. Not to blindly support a politician we believe in but to hold them accountable in their flop eras.
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