With the midterm elections just days away, a wave of celebrity endorsements is hitting Democratic inboxes, as party committees and individual candidates make a final fundraising push to flip the House. The appeals, signed by entertainment and science figures, frame the race as a last line of defense against a second Trump term's agenda.
Barbra Streisand, one of the Democratic Party's most prominent celebrity fundraisers, lent her name to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) email on Tuesday. In it, the 84-year-old singer and actor wrote that her platform carries a duty to speak out against injustice, and she blasted President Trump for relying on a “GOP puppets” in the House majority. “We can't have a president who doesn't respect our constitution,” she said, adding that a Democratic majority is essential to “put a check on this president.”
Bradley Whitford, known for his role as Josh Lyman on The West Wing, also signed a DCCC email last week. The 67-year-old actor drew a line between fiction and current politics, saying the “political reality we face today is far from fiction.” He accused Trump and House Republicans of infringing on Americans' rights and declared, “I can't fathom letting Trump hold office with unchecked power for another two years.” Whitford urged supporters to join him in working to ensure the GOP loses the House.
Democrats need a net gain of three seats to secure a 218-217 majority, a narrow path that has made every competitive district critical. Documentarian Ken Burns has been particularly active, attaching his name to nearly 20 fundraising emails for Rep. Maggie Goodlander's (D-N.H.) reelection campaign. Burns, whose work chronicles American history, invoked the idea of a national crossroads, saying the country is at a moment “when the path chosen determined not just a generation, but the character of the nation itself.” He warned that losing Goodlander's seat would make retaking the House “virtually impossible” and would kill any chance of accountability.
Bill Nye, the “Science Guy,” also joined the DCCC's efforts, using his familiar persona to urge action. “You might be used to me teaching you about physics or space, but I'm reaching out today about the future of our democracy,” he wrote. Nye argued that electing Democrats is the best way to counter the administration and restore balance, emphasizing that the “future direction of our country is at a crucial crossroads.”
The flurry of celebrity-backed appeals comes as a record 71% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, a sentiment that Democrats are hoping to channel into voter turnout. Recent polling also shows Trump's approval rating sinking to 31%, giving Democrats a tailwind in key races.
While celebrities have long been a fixture in Democratic fundraising, the intensity of this cycle reflects the high stakes both parties see in the House battle. Republicans are defending a slim majority, and Trump's final midterm sprint has focused on Senate firewalls in red states, leaving House races to be fought on local terrain.
The DCCC and individual campaigns are betting that star power can still move donors in the final stretch, even as election betting faces new state bans and meta bias questions swirl. For now, the message from celebrities is consistent: a Democratic House is the only check on Trump's power.
