Story perspectives

Fandom Meets Politics: Campaigns Embrace Pop Culture Strategies

12/22/2025

Summary

Story summary

Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign used fandom-based advertising, a TV ad with former Survivor contestants urging voters to reject Andrew Cuomo.
Eric Stern noted that fan communities are social and that politics mirrors fan cultures in mobilization.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign built a fan base and drew on gaming and wrestling to attract supporters.
The blending of fandom and politics reshapes engagement strategies in contemporary campaigns.

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Story summary

Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign used fandom-based advertising, a TV ad with former Survivor contestants urging voters to reject Andrew Cuomo.
Eric Stern noted that fan communities are social and that politics mirrors fan cultures in mobilization.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign built a fan base and drew on gaming and wrestling to attract supporters.
The blending of fandom and politics reshapes engagement strategies in contemporary campaigns.