Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has unequivocally stated that he will not be endorsing any candidates in the forthcoming presidential election. This comes despite recent efforts to involve him and his wife, Brittany, in political discussions.
As the 2024 election season gains momentum, with a host of celebrity endorsements and political strategies, the three-time Super Bowl champion has chosen to remain neutral.
Mahomes spoke to journalists on Wednesday, September 11, before heading to practice for the upcoming game against Cincinnati. He highlighted his wish to maintain his platform’s political neutrality. “I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way,” Mahomes affirmed.
Rather than endorsing a candidate, the quarterback is more interested in promoting civic participation among his supporters. “I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family,” he elaborated.
His remarks followed former President Donald Trump’s comment during a Fox News phone interview, where he lauded Brittany Mahomes, Patrick’s spouse, as a “big Trump fan”. This came on the heels of pop star Taylor Swift endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and has built a close relationship with the Mahomes family, made her endorsement public less than a day before Mahomes addressed the press.
The composed quarterback, known for his calmness both on and off the field, downplayed Trump’s comments about his wife. “I can’t let that affect how I operate or how me and Brittany operate and what we do in the community and how we try to help people,” Mahomes clarified.
Speculation regarding Brittany Mahomes’ political leanings started when she reportedly liked one of Trump’s Instagram posts. However, she has not formally endorsed any candidate, and Patrick Mahomes’ recent comments suggest that the couple prefers to keep their political preferences private.
Mahomes has a track record of advocating for voter participation without aligning himself with any specific party or candidate. In 2020, he played a role in making Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, a polling location. His focus on promoting voter registration and participation aligns with his broader community engagement initiatives.
His stance on political neutrality contrasts with the growing trend of celebrities endorsing presidential candidates. For instance, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Harris has already made a significant impact. Reports indicate that Swift’s Instagram post encouraging her fans to register to vote led over 400,000 visitors to the vote.gov website in a single day.
In her endorsement of Harris, Swift praised the vice president as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who would “fight for the rights and causes” she supports. Swift also expressed concern about the spread of misinformation, including a false AI-generated endorsement of Donald Trump that had been circulating.
In response to Swift’s endorsement, the Trump campaign depicted her as a “very liberal person” who would “probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.” Nonetheless, a group of Swift’s followers, known as “Swifties for Kamala,” has already rallied in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.
As the 2024 election draws closer, the role of celebrity endorsements and the influence of high-profile figures on voter behavior continue to be topics of deep analysis. While some celebrities, like Swift, use their influence to support specific candidates, others, like Mahomes, choose a more balanced approach, focusing on promoting democratic participation.
