The role of sports in American political elections

"Game, set, match", tweeted Elon Musk, using the words that, in his - not-so-metaphoric - position, a tennis umpire would have used to close a match. Perhaps a couple of hours ahead of schedule, Musk's tweet foretold what would soon become clear: Donald Trump, in his second term, would be the fifty-seventh president of the United States. The Republican candidate won the U.S. elections with a margin far exceeding expectations (at least those of the pollsters, although betting agencies and the financial world had warned us), which, the day before, suggested a tight race with Democrat Kamala Harris; however, from the very first returns coming in from polling stations, the vote count was clearly going in favor of the New York tycoon, who will return to the White House after his previous stay from 2017 to 2021. Drawing from the sports universe like Musk, Enrico Mentana during his usual overnight marathon on the Italian channel La7, at one point (the scoreboard read 230-192), said that Trump had to "just wait for mathematical certainty, but it’s like a team ahead by 10 points in a championship."

Beyond the parallels of Musk and Mentana, the 2024 elections confirmed an increasingly pronounced trend: the involvement of the athlete community and, in general, the importance of the sports world in moments of American political life. In recent weeks, the presumed race to the last vote has led to an extension of an already substantial list of stars, legends, and famous faces from the major professional leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) who have taken a stand, using their visibility - and in some cases, influence - to support one of the two candidates. Similarly, the campaigns of Trump and Harris have heavily drawn from the resonance of sports entertainment, as evidenced by invitations to conventions and the airing of advertisements during television events, such as American football games; a constant in recent months, both on mainstream media (among others, the ads about winning attitudes) and in specific contexts - even at the collegiate level and on local broadcasters - where targeted messages are conveyed (for example, on the issue of gender identity).

Sports and U.S. Politics

The presence of three former Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) players - Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Mike Wallace - at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, as well as the invitation of Dana White (president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship) to the Republican convention, confirms the phenomenon. It finds its counterpart in the Democratic side with the involvement of Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr - symbols of the Golden State Warriors (NBA) - at the September Democratic rally. The two renewed a commitment that is neither new nor episodic within a highly politicized context - and in this sense, so distant from ours - like the NBA.

It’s not new for the most followed voices to take the stage to speak directly to the electorate or Congress, and conversely, it’s no secret that sports represent one of the most fertile ecosystems to explore during election campaigns, allowing access to a diverse, young audience that is hard to reach and particularly sensitive to the stimuli provided by their role models. All of this has inspired various forms of alliances, endorsements, positions, and activism within a movement that today is more aware than ever of its potential; a trail upon which campaigns like More than a Vote, founded by LeBron James in 2020 after the death of George Taylor, emerged to encourage citizens to vote and demand justice and social reforms (the organization is now led by Nneka Ogwumike, who has expanded its efforts for equal opportunities and against gender discrimination).

In the months leading up to the recent election, the American sports landscape seemed quite fragmented, with some refraining from taking a stance, others working to encourage voting (regardless of preference), and still others openly aligning with one side or the other (with a predictable lean toward Harris due to the historical socio-cultural connotations of such leagues, especially in basketball). In the end, with results in hand, Democratic ambassadors like Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Mavericks) found themselves commenting on the defeat, while Trump supporters - like former NASCAR star Danica Patrick - celebrated the victory. Let’s take a look at their respective lineups.

Team Trump vs Team Harris

From the red corner, in support of Donald Trump, came the voices of the already mentioned Dana White, who emphasized the support from a significant portion of the contact sports world, and the icon of female motorsport, Danica Patrick, who had recently stirred controversy with her remarks about the Diddy party. Among NFL athletes, Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers) and Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs) expressed their endorsement of the Republican candidate, with the latter being especially involved in the anti-abortion cause. Finally, some past stars and celebrities: quarterback Brett Favre, boxer Mike Tyson, wrestler Hulk Hogan, YouTuber-boxer Jake Paul, Jack "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus (golfer), and Yankees closer (MLB baseball) Mariano Rivera.

In the blue corner, however, in the front row, in addition to the previously mentioned NBA figures, were the signatories of Athletes for Harris, a campaign launched in September by fifteen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Emmitt Smith, Mel Blount, and Alan Page. They were joined by Thomas Booker (Eagles), Ali Krieger (former soccer player), Billie Jean King (tennis legend), and several well-known figures from women’s basketball (Dawn Staley, the entire Seattle Storm team, and especially Megan Rapinoe, spokesperson for human rights and gender equality) and men’s basketball (Magic Johnson, Chris Paul, and Doc Rivers).

Do Celebrities Really Matter?

An increasing number of athletes now have the ability to use their platforms not only to express opinions but also to intervene in the public debate, thanks to the megaphone provided by digital media and especially social networks. The direct impact of endorsements from top-level athletes on electoral processes is not quantifiable concretely, but in certain cases, it can be significant, at least in shaping the contours of the debate and its building process.

In a society where - especially among younger demographics and, presumably, increasingly in the future - figures from the sports business hold considerable influence over public perception, the exposure of so many figures reflects and legitimizes the way they have long been portrayed: "more than athletes", more than just athletes. At the same time, it highlights how much further there is to go in a vast country full of contradictions, where voter turnout, polarization, and public misinformation continue to be sensitive issues. And where the involvement of athletes will continue to expand with the upcoming generations.