From Bad Bunny to the Ballot Box

It's time for the Democratic party to rethink its relevance and reimagine its future.

Think back to the 2016 Republican primary debates. The stage was crowded with candidates who all seemed cut from the same cloth: perfectly coiffed, stiffly suited, with messages and manners from the 1990s. Their speeches echoed with safe, familiar tones, projecting a rehearsed professionalism that felt more dated than relevant.

Except Trump. His blunt language, bold gestures, and unapologetically combative style made him look and sound completely out of place — and that made all the difference. While other candidates blended into a single, forgettable image, Trump stood apart. He went on to execute a hostile takeover of the party, replacing its dusty brand with his own modern, media-savvy version.

I’m no fan of Trump. As a man, I believe him unqualified to be President. But as an example of how politicians and their parties benefit from staying relevant, there’s no better example.

A Brand Refresh

Major brands don’t evolve by accident or whim. Nike didn’t stumble into streetwear, and Apple didn’t randomly embrace social consciousness. These companies systematically monitor cultural indicators, paying particular attention to youth trends. Why? Because young people often pioneer cultural changes that eventually go mainstream. Getting a head start on those changes helps brands evolve more smoothly.

Yet while commercial brands strive to stay current with cultural shifts, political brands seem content to remain at least a generation behind. This lag isn’t entirely surprising—parties rely heavily on older voters who value familiarity, their leadership comes from older generations, and they’re bound by complex coalitions that make change risky. Most crucially, they often mistake success as proof they don’t need to change — until they are forced to.

And that’s where I think the Democratic party is right now: forced to rethink its relevance and reimagine its future. The Harris campaign injected needed energy and vigor, but like the broader party, it was still weighed down by behaviors set in the past. It produced economic plans and position papers as if rational arguments could win hearts and minds. Their communication felt frantic and donation-centric, their social media presence more like a broadcast channel than a conversation.

With the midterms on the horizon, Democrats have little time to contemplate or experiment on what might resonate with a winning coalition. Like the pre-Trump Republicans, they are overdue for an update — preferably one in sync with current cultural values.

Take Note

Youth culture is a breeding ground for new values and beliefs. Some die off quickly, some linger without expanding, and some go viral, spreading to adults and becoming what we think of as “mainstream” culture.

Video gaming evolved beyond a youthful pastime to become a massive entertainment industry that rivals movies and music combined. Tattoos moved from teenage rebellion to common self-expression across age groups. Hip-hop transformed from an urban youth movement to a dominant cultural force. The pattern repeats frequently: what starts as “just a youth trend” becomes mainstream culture because young people don’t stay young — they carry their values, preferences, and expectations into adulthood.

Several of these trends are on the cusp of crossing over to mainstream culture. It won’t happen overnight — it’s a slow transition, but it’s already started.

To see the future of political leadership more clearly, we need only look at how young people learn about and evaluate leadership today. While they draw influence from many sources, celebrities have become particularly powerful models of modern success and influence. Unlike previous generations who idolized celebrities from afar, today’s fans forge deeper, interactive connections with cultural icons who shape not just their entertainment choices, but their core values about leadership, success, and social impact.

Change for the Better

On the surface, the appeal of certain figures might seem random or purely based on entertainment value. But look deeper and insights reveal expectations about success, leadership, and social values that will follow them into adulthood — and change what everyone thinks is normal.

Bad Bunny’s massive youth following stems from his fearless authenticity, challenging traditional norms through open discussions of mental health and gender-fluid fashion choices. He models a new version of masculinity that combines artistic confidence with emotional awareness. Chappell Roan amplifies this authenticity further, using social media not to create a curated persona but to share her genuine self, encouraging others to embrace their own journey of self-discovery.

These icons are also redefining success and influence. Taylor Swift’s reclaiming of her master recordings while building a commercial empire serves as a masterclass in strategic thinking and empowerment. MrBeast demonstrates similar savvy, showing how creativity and technical knowledge combine with authentic audience connection to build modern influence. Their success reveals how today’s leaders must balance achievement with genuine engagement.

Simone Biles perhaps best exemplifies this evolution in leadership. When she stepped back from Olympic competition to protect her mental health, she demonstrated how modern icons can maintain excellence while setting clear boundaries. Her courage in choosing personal authenticity over public expectations shows how strength and vulnerability can coexist, creating deeper connections with audiences who increasingly value holistic success over traditional metrics of achievement.

Yes, traditional influences like family, friends, and life events still matter but this generation’s relationship with cultural icons is unprecedented in its potential to reshape social and political expectations. Today’s role models are demonstrating new templates for success in a rapidly changing economy where traditional career paths are less reliable. More importantly, these figures are showing the journey, not just the destination. Unlike previous generations’ celebrities who often seemed untouchably perfect, today’s icons share their struggles, setbacks, and growth in real time. This transparency creates a deeper, more lasting influence on their followers’ values and aspirations.

Now Would Be a Good Time

Imagine if political leaders could connect with voters the way cultural icons connect with their followers—by embodying and expressing values that resonate with them.

Right now, the contrast couldn’t be starker. While Bad Bunny openly discusses mental health and Taylor Swift explains business strategy, politicians hide behind carefully scripted messaging. While MrBeast and Chappell Roan build authentic connections through social media, political figures remain distant and formally packaged. This gap between how cultural leaders and political leaders engage with their audiences reveals exactly what needs to change.

Trump, despite his flaws, bridges this gap for his supporters. His unfiltered communication style and constant social media presence mirror how cultural icons engage with their followers. His supporters don’t just back his policies—they feel personally invested in his journey, much like fans follow their favorite celebrities. This is the kind of emotional connection other politicians need to forge, though hopefully with more constructive messaging and values.

I’m convinced the next wave of political leaders will draw more from Taylor Swift’s playbook than traditional party tactics. The Democrats who find success in 2026 and beyond won’t be those who publish the most detailed policies or raise the most money, but those who forge genuine ongoing connections with supporters by modeling modern values.

Making It Real

The cultural icons who resonate most with young people today share a common thread — they blend traditional markers of success with modern values. They demonstrate that strength can coexist with emotional intelligence, that ambition works best paired with authenticity, that individual achievement gains meaning through social impact. Their followers expect competence but demand transparency, respect power but insist on purpose. Most importantly, these leaders show that vision and vulnerability can work together, creating deeper, more lasting connections.

The path from observation to implementation isn’t easy, but losing is a powerful incentive and an invitation to change. My expertise is in branding, not political strategy so take these suggestions as opening ideas rather than dictates. Politicians at any level of government who embrace some form of these actions would be meeting their future supporters where they live.

Update engagement strategies:

• Build ongoing relationships between elections, not just during campaigns. Trump’s Stop the Steal campaign was a clever way to keep his presence alive and growing between elections. There are more positive ways to do that.

• Create genuine two-way dialogue about priorities and challenges. Politically engaged constituents are smart and can offer intelligent feedback. Solicit it.

• Show the human side of policy-making through personal stories and experiences. Strive to be a real person, not a personality.

Reimagine communication channels

• Replace policy papers with authentic behind-the-scenes content showing how legislation actually gets made. Find a way to keep it accessible and engaging.

• Transform social media from broadcast tool to engagement platform by showing the messy reality of governance. Frustration, exhaustion, and disbelief are humanizing qualities. Don’t hide them.

• Share setbacks and challenges openly, not just victories. Calm, enlightened self-awareness is disarming, and as Kamala Harris correctly deduced, we’re all tired of outrage.

• Raise money with specific goals in mind. Don’t treat supporters as ATMs. Engage them as real supporters by identifying what the fundraising will do (specifically, not “make the difference!”)

Modernize leadership styles

• Allow younger politicians to lead key initiatives and shape party messaging. Showcase novel approaches that break restrictive norms.

• Embrace leaders who demonstrate both competence and authenticity. Legacy media is unlikely to do this in a positive manner so you’ll need alternative channels

• Value emotional intelligence alongside traditional political skills. Some people are born with this ability, but everyone can learn it.

As I wrote previously, several politicians are leading by example in making these changes. Consider AOC’s Instagram updates from Congress, showing both process and personality. Or Jon Fetterman’s ability to maintain authenticity while handling serious policy matters. Or Pete Buttigieg’s measured, emotionally intelligent response to insults and lies. These early attempts prove political leadership can evolve without sacrificing substance.

The signs of what’s coming are hiding in plain sight — we can learn from what young people already know about modern leadership. By recognizing these subtle shifts in cultural values now, we gain insight into the future of political influence and leadership that others might miss.

Your Turn

Unless you’re under 30, you may be unfamiliar with some of the celebrities I listed. You can follow the links to learn more about them and the values they espouse, or better yet, have a conversation with a young person about who they admire and why. Here’s what I typically ask:

• Which celebrity or cultural icon best matches your values or aspirations? What draws you to them?

• When celebrities you admire share their struggles and doubts, how does that affect your connection to them?

• If you had a large following, how would you engage with them? What would you share, and what boundaries would you set?

This is a broad topic and one that fascinates me to no end, so I’m looking forward to future posts on related questions like how to connect across generations, or which celebrities can actually influence voting patterns, or what is the impact of cultural icons who push negative values and behaviors (see Andrew Tate).

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If you’re new here, an algorithm probably guided you. In that case, I recommend you confirm who I am, where my expertise lies, and what biases I may bring to my posts. If you want to read more, I’d suggest you start with my foundational post, The Hidden Influence of Branding in American Politics.