Luke Gulbranson, known for his appearances on Bravo's Below Deck franchise, poses with supporters at a campaign event for his congressional run. A new batch of reality TV stars are hoping to transition into elected office, capitalizing on name recognition and comfort in front of cameras. Photo: PBS NewsHour
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May 18, 2026
From The Apprentice to the Oval Office — Donald Trump wasn't the first. Now a wave of reality TV stars is running for Congress. What does it mean for democracy when fame becomes a campaign strategy?
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, his wife and their children filmed a reality show that is set to be released in the lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary. It is a return to form for the Duffys, who first met filming for MTV in the 1990s. Now, a new batch of reality TV stars are hoping to transition into elected office. Ali Rogin reports on how their campaigns could change politics.
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NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
The News: Then & Now section of the Daily News Lessons allows students to see connections between current and past news events. The activity provides historical context using primary sources from the Library of Congress.
See PBS News Hour Classroom's Journalism in Action website for interactive examples of how journalists covered key events in U.S. history while honing your primary source, civics and digital news literacy skills.
As noted by the infographic at the end of this segment, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to appear on television in 1939. Since then, television has been a critical medium for presidents, politicians and candidates to communicate with the public.
Appealing to potential voters and winning the confidence of the public through the media of television called upon different skills and talents than the speeches and rhetoric candidates had used before television.
One famous example is the 1960 televised debates between candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.
Though Nixon came into the debate leading in the polls, he did not prepare well for appearing on television screens on countless homes throughout the U.S. He famously refused to wear makeup, and he appeared to be sweating and uncomfortable compared to the more composed Kennedy. Many historians see the debate as a turning point in the election, leading to Kennedy's win.
It soon became apparent that comfort with television and other new media was critical for success for aspiring politicians. (You can watch the full debate at the John F. Kennedy Library website here.)
Donald Trump was able to win the presidency partly thanks to his comfort with television cameras due to his experience with the reality TV series, the Apprentice. Trump was similarly comfortable with social media, and was able to reach audiences daily through his constant presence on Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets.
Today, reality TV stars and other celebrities with a knack for modern media see that experience along with name recognition as a significant advantage as they seek office.
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
