CCT Student Alex Blau Presents Paper on American Politics at the American Political Science Association (APSA) 2025 Meeting

Communication, Culture & Technology student Alex Blau presented his paper, “Texan Mystique: The Influence of Celebrity and the USA’s Next Celebrity President,” at the 2025 American Political Science Association (ASPA) annual meeting as part of their civic engagement panel.

Blau’s paper explores the political viability of actor Matthew McConaughey and the rise of celebrity political figures. The paper tested voter sentiment towards McConaughey in a hypothetical, nonpartisan political scenario, with the results telling that 16% of all respondents would vote for McConaughey.

At ASPA, Blau joined scholars to discuss parasocial politics, pop culture, and evolving political trust. His research was supported by the Center for Research and Learning (CERL) and reflects CCT’s interdisciplinary focus on communication, media, and political culture. Read more about Alex’s research with CERL here.