GD POLITICS Celebrity Politicians, Dummymandering, And The Texas Primary
13 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Lenny Bronner, a data scientist at The Washington Post, joins to delve into the unique intersection of celebrity and politics. They explore the potential shift to ranked choice voting for Democrats in 2028 and how it could reshape primaries. Discussions also reveal the dynamics of the Texas Senate race, with insights into how celebrity status might influence electoral success. Lenny highlights the impact of gerrymandering and the challenges facing potential candidates like Roy Cooper and Andy Beshear. Expect intriguing analysis and lively banter!
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Ranked Choice Could Reshape Democratic Primaries
- Ranked-choice in a Democratic primary could produce broader, less polarizing winners by rewarding second-choice coalitions.
- It might shorten the primary if a candidate secures majority support earlier, changing campaign dynamics.
Celebrity Eases Entry But Doesn't Assure Victory
- Celebrity helps get candidates into contention by providing immediate name recognition and media attention.
- But historical success is limited and celebrity alone rarely guarantees electoral victory.
Celebrity Candidates: Hits And Misses
- Lenny lists celebrity-to-office examples: Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Al Franken.
- He then names many celebrity failures like Herschel Walker, Kanye West, Mehmet Oz, Caitlyn Jenner.