UW Madison student voters share impact of celebrities endorsing presidential candidates

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – There are less than 50 days until the presidential election and celebrities are continuing to endorse who they think is best for the job.

There is buzz around celebrities endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump this election cycle. University of Wisconsin- Madison students say it’s exciting to see their favorite celebrities speak about the candidates.

“I feel like Beyonce’s a big one, like that’s my queen right there,” UW Madison Junior Natalia Baker said.

UW Emeritus Professor Richard Haven says endorsements matter depending on the entertainer and how well they are known.

“I think celebrity endorsements have become more noteworthy in the last 25 years with the development of social media,” Haven said.

Samantha Golub just turned 18 and this is her first time voting in a presidential election. She believes superstars speaking out has opened the eyes of young voters.

“I’ve always wanted to vote, and I know that hasn’t been the case for my friends and a lot of people my age,” Golub said. “It definitely helps people overall.”

Haven explains there were 15,000 new Wisconsin registrants after the debate and Taylor Swift’s endorsement.

“Her message encouraging them to register had a box that would track only those who, when they register, would come back to her,” Haven said. “We can tell that there’s some impact there.”

Political science and legal studies major Natalia Baker think famous people can push others to educate themselves.

“This is like the most political I’ve ever seen on our campus, and I just think it’s incredibly interesting the conversations going on in my classes and around campus,” Baker said.

Even though folks register, Haven says some don’t make it to the polls on election day.

“On the Trump side, we’ve seen Robert Kennedy Jr. end his race and endorse President Trump,” Haven said. “He was trying to get on the off the ballot in Wisconsin. He has not succeeded. But again, he’s hoping to bring supporters to President Trump.”

Singers Billie Ellish, Olivia Rodrigo and John Legend have endorsed Harris. Kid Rock, Elon Musk and UFC CEO Dana White have publicly endorsed Trump.

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