Celebrities have 'incredibly powerful' ability to influence election: Harvard study

Celebrities really can have an impact on voter turnout, enthusiasm, fundraising and more through their own political activism, according to the results of a new Harvard study.

Researchers working on the study analyzed the approaches of 15 managers, publicists, nonprofit partners, philanthropic advisers and celebrities, including well-known names such as Hailey Bieber, David Dobrik, Billie Eilish, Trevor Noah, Taylor Swift, Kerry Washington and The Roots co-founder and drummer Questlove. Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.

"Celebrities, like all of us, face choices about how to engage in democracy. For example, they can serve as surrogates for political candidates, helping to ‘rally the base’ or reach new audiences," the study reads, adding that there is also evidence that "celebrities can help with candidate fundraising, attracting large crowds to political events or volunteer shifts, which draws press attention."