Shut Up and Dribble?: Debunked (Athlete Endorsements in U.S. Presidential Elections - 2016-2024)

This paper examines the impact of athlete endorsements on voter behavior and electoral outcomes using data from the 2016, 2020 and 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections, specifically focusing on athletes’ influence in their hometown counties. Despite public skepticism surrounding athletes’ lack of political knowledge, research suggests endorsements from figures in sports may increase vote shares. This study compares two regressions to analyze the impact of athlete endorsements on vote share across counties. The first shows that Republican athlete endorsements slightly decrease Republican vote share, while Democratic athlete endorsements significantly increase Democratic vote share. The second, which includes interaction terms like athlete retirement status and sport type, reveals that the effects of Republican athlete endorsements vary based on these factors, while Democratic athlete endorsements consistently boost Democratic vote share. Ultimately, this paper reveals that athlete endorsements are increasingly important in shaping elections, particularly in local communities.