An article in CTV News discusses how political endorsements can impact voting outcomes for municipal elections. Several notable public figures have shared their endorsements of Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow in the run up to the mayoral elections.
Zac Spicer, associate professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA), says that while it can be difficult to evaluate how much endorsements matter in a campaign, they tend to have more impact in elections where voters have less information about candidates, such as municipal elections. He says that while celebrity endorsements can spark conversations, endorsements from leaders and politicians are often more meaningful to voters, since voters care about first-hand experience.
Spicer holds a PhD in political science from the University of Western Ontario. His research interests include politics and government, public administration, local government, smart cities, data governance and innovation policy.    
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