You can see them in Albany, hear them in campaign ads, and they may even be knocking on your door urging you to vote.
The rich, talented, and beautiful stars we love (and sometimes hate) are all over New York politics, and their interest in local issues, like the firing of the NYC Transportation Commissioner, can sometimes seem surprising and even contradictory. Who knew Sarah Jessica Parker was a fan of Andy Byford?
But it's not all that surprising that celebrities care about New York and the people who run it — many A-listers live in New York, though perhaps a few commute there regularly — and when it comes to some issues, they're particularly well-placed advocates. Actors are at risk of having their digital likeness reproduced commercially by movie studios. Compelling testimony On the importance of regulating artificial intelligence. Who better to declare the war on drugs a “colossal failure” than an artist who grew up witnessing the impact of the Rockefeller drug laws on black and Latino neighborhoods?
But ultimately, what positive effect does star power have on political campaigns? City & State spoke with strategists and lawmakers who have worked with celebrities on campaigns and legislative efforts about the benefits and potential pitfalls of narrowing down your A, B, and C list of political partners.
When star power equals political power
It's an overcast Monday in southern Brooklyn, and little-known state Senate candidate Andrew Gounardes knocks on your door. You might not want to hear what he has to say. But imagine that actor Ben Stiller, dressed in Gounardes campaign attire, is standing at your doorstep alongside the candidate. There's a good chance that Zoolander himself will at least pique your curiosity.
“A lot of what we do is bring public attention to what we're working on,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris, “and celebrities, by virtue of their status, are obviously able to accomplish that.” After his win, Gounardes said Stiller's campaign and the support of his non-celebrity allies helped spread his campaign's message.
Lawmakers and strategists are understandably hesitant to attribute the victory (or defeat) of a political campaign or advocacy effort to the public figures who spoke about or engaged in it. But things could improve if campaigns and advocacy groups strategically embrace celebrity endorsements and find loyal, sincere supporters. After Lady Gaga interrupted a concert in Buffalo to urge her “little monsters” to call Republican state Sen. Mark Grisanti and urge him to support Albany's same-sex marriage bill, Grisanti's office was inundated with calls the next day, City & State previously reported. Grisanti ended up being the deciding factor in getting the bill passed.
The 2011 Albany fight for same-sex marriage drew many celebrities, but with limited funding, activists sought out advocates who could change hearts and minds on what was then a hot-button issue. Brian Eller, then senior marriage strategist for New York at the Human Rights Campaign, said the group's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign was deliberate. After actress Julianne Moore joined, it wasn't hard to get other members on board. But the group wasn't just looking for liberal Hollywood stars, and ended up turning down some. “We wanted to go after what we call unusual suspects,” Eller recalled, and brought in other kinds of celebrities, like Wall Streeters, former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, and professional athletes, to reach people who consume all kinds of media and have diverse interests. “If you're a sports fan and you only read and consume sports, you're going to hear about us,” Eller said. “We will be taking a break from sports coverage as Michael Strahan and Sean Avery rush to assist.”
Without pressure from advocacy groups, prominent New Yorkers and peers, a bill could slip through their fingers, but it takes a special concoction to make a bill, and sometimes it takes celebrity stardust to bring it to fruition.
State Senator Brad Hoylman Segal
Without pressure from advocacy groups, prominent New Yorkers and peers, a bill could slip through their fingers, but it takes a special concoction to make a bill, and sometimes it takes celebrity stardust to bring it to fruition.
While celebrity endorsements in political campaigns are often intended to grab voter attention and garner support, bringing a little extra attention to an issue can also help lawmakers drown out the noise of their colleagues. This is especially true during the chaotic final weeks of the session. “These final weeks are going to see everyone pulling together, everyone fighting for their priorities,” said State Sen. Brad Hoylman Sigal. “Without pressure from advocacy groups, prominent New Yorkers and colleagues, bills could slip through your hands. But it takes a special concoction, and sometimes celebrity stardust makes it happen.”
Celebrities can also be used to fill the gaps and deflect attention from “apocalyptic reporting” when a bill is stalled, as happened in the final stages of the fight over same-sex marriage. “Instead, they said, 'Fran Drescher supports same-sex marriage, and we all support it!'” Ellner says. “We actually had a couple of celebrities come to Albany that week and just shake hands and create momentum and excitement.”
A celebrity endorsement is just a name and face in campaign mailings and press releases. That alone is a powerful force, especially when it comes to fundraising. While celebrities can and often do donate to candidates individually, hosting a big, flashy fundraiser can translate into real material benefits, especially as the “chair” of the event. “When you have name recognition, you can charge more money,” says political consultant Lupe Todd Medina. “What used to be a $250 event becomes a $1,000 or $2,000 event because of your name recognition.” And if the celebrity actually shows up, that's an added bonus, says Todd Medina.
But the most successful celebrity endorsements and activism usually come with a personal connection that lets voters and other lawmakers know the celebrity isn't just there to promote good Samaritans. Hoylman-Sigal and Gianaris give the example of actress Emma Stone's visit to Albany to speak with lawmakers and take plenty of selfies while defending Hoylman-Sigal's proposed child harassment bill (which has yet to pass). “When women like Emma Stone come into the room and talk about their personal experiences of being hounded by paparazzi and the personal impact it had on her and her young family, it's really moving,” she said.
All that glitters
A public figure can be an asset if they are passionate and knowledgeable about the issues they advocate for: Actor Mark Ruffalo, who has opposed fracking for more than a decade, should get some credit for getting the practice banned in the state in 2014, says Hoylman-Sigal, and Ruffalo remains vigilant and vocal in his opposition to other forms of fracking.
But when celebrities jump into the action just to lend their name to it, and go to all the trouble just for that, the rewards may ultimately not be worth the investment, especially for already-stretched political directors and PR staff. “They spend so much energy trying to get approval just for their name,” Todd Medina said. “That's never a good thing.”
Some of these celebrities may be A-list Hollywood stars, but there's only so many egos a busy political staffer can manage in a day. “A lot of them are very demanding and say, 'I'm important, please answer my phone,'” says Todd Medina. “And in our world, if I'm on the phone with a U.S. senator and you call, your phone goes to voicemail.”
Some also say relying too much on celebrities, or on the wrong celebrities, could distract from the campaign's aims. “Celebrities can be naive sometimes. They're usually very wealthy. They usually don't ride the subway like you and I,” Hoylman Segal said. “When they're out of touch with the average New Yorker, and they're known for that, that can be a downside.”
The question posed in a 2016 Washington Post article had an obvious answer: “Clinton vs. Trump: Who Has Better Celebrities?” Clinton had A-list stars like Beyoncé; Trump had Scott Baio (a former “Happy Days” actor). But conservatives often criticize liberals for relying on Hollywood elites, and as they wrack their brains for explanations for Clinton's loss, one question is whether her legions of celebrity endorsements swayed voters toward Trump, the ultimate celebrity candidate who pitched the anti-establishment cause without a shred of irony.
While there are some high-profile examples, such as Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama during his first presidential primary, studies of the effects of political endorsements, including those by celebrities, have shown mixed and unconvincing results.
Campaigns also have to be smart about who they bring on board and how they deploy them, whether it's on behalf of a candidate or lobbying in Albany. Celebrities can quickly rise and fall in public favor, and campaigns often do more harm than good when they associate themselves with disgraced or controversial figures. “It definitely happens,” Todd Medina said, declining to give his name. “Especially if the candidate themselves brings that person on, and then they're like, 'Oh no, no no no. I don't want that endorsement.'”
Sometimes it's just a bad fit: Campaigns generally look for people who align with their values, and Hoylman Segal noted that a far-right figure, like Jon Voight, isn't someone she would want to support.
Ultimately, celebrity glitz alone won't get the job done. “At the end of the day, name recognition is important to a bill, but it's all about the substance,” Hoylman Segal said. “My colleagues aren't going to be fooled by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood celebrities.”
