When Politicians Use Sneakers as Props: The Susan Collins Problem

One senator made a dad joke. The other built a movement.

Senator Susan Collins announced her 2026 re-election campaign today with a 14-second video. She unboxes a pair of New Balance sneakers and delivers the punchline: “This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running.”

Cue the collective eye roll from anyone who actually cares about sneaker culture.

Look, I get it. Politicians need to connect with voters. They n…