MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – The presidential election is less than 50 days away and celebrities are continuing to support who they think is best for the job.
There’s a 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 talk about the candidates.
“I feel like Beyoncé is a big one, like she’s my queen,” UW Madison Junior Natalia Baker said.
UW professor emeritus Richard Haven says endorsements matter depending on the entertainer and their knowledge.
“I think celebrity endorsements have become more prominent in the last 25 years with the development of social media,” Haven said.
Samantha Golub just turned 18 and it’s her first time voting in a presidential election. She believes the 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 in general.”
Haven says there were 15,000 new signups in Wisconsin after the debate and Taylor Swift’s endorsement.
“Her message encouraging them to sign up had a box that only tracked those who, when they signed up, would come back to it,” Haven said. “We can tell there is some impact.”
Political science and legal studies major Natalia Baker believes that famous people can push others to educate themselves.
“This is like the most political thing I’ve ever seen on our campus, and I think it’s incredibly interesting the conversations that are happening in my classes and on campus,” Baker said.
Although people do register, Haven says some don’t make it to the polls on Election Day.
“From the Trump side, we’ve seen Robert Kennedy Jr. end his career and endorse President Trump,” Haven said. “He was trying to get out the vote in Wisconsin. He hasn’t succeeded. But again, he’s hoping to bring supporters to President Trump.”
Singers Billie Ellis, 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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