Democrats Take Fight Against Project 2025 to the Skies Over College Football Stadiums in Key Swing States
In a bold move, Democrats intensified their campaign against Project 2025, a conservative blueprint backed by allies of former President Donald Trump, by flying banners over major college football games in swing states on Saturday. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) sponsored banners pulled by small airplanes above Michigan Stadium, where the Wolverines faced Texas, as well as Penn State and Wisconsin’s home games. A fourth banner planned for Georgia’s game was grounded due to weather conditions.
The banners were part of an ongoing effort led by Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies, who have spent months warning about the controversial Project 2025 plan. Developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation, the 900-page document outlines drastic measures Trump might take if re-elected, including firing thousands of federal employees, restructuring government departments, and imposing stricter restrictions on abortion and diversity programs.
Trump has distanced himself from a direct connection to the plan but has endorsed many of its ideas. Democrats, however, are seizing on Project 2025 as a central issue in their messaging, framing it as an example of the extreme policies Trump and his allies could implement.
Saturday’s effort aimed to catch the attention of tens of thousands of fans, with messages like “JD Vance ‘hearts’ Ohio State + Project 2025” flying over Michigan Stadium, poking fun at Vance’s love for Ohio State while linking him to the plan. In Wisconsin, where the Badgers hosted South Dakota, a banner read, “Jump Around! Beat Trump + Project 2025,” referencing the famous stadium tradition. At Penn State, the message was simple: “Beat Trump, Sack Project 2025.”
The DNC has been relentless in pushing this narrative, frequently bringing up Project 2025 in press statements and campaign events. The committee has even printed an oversized version of the plan as a convention prop and used it in various digital ads.
While the effort is part of a broader strategy to paint Trump and his allies as extreme, some experts caution that it could backfire. College football fans, particularly those from rural areas, often lean Republican, and political messaging in sports settings carries its own risks.
Still, the DNC remains confident in its approach. “They can get rowdy all they want at a banner,” said DNC deputy communications director Abhi Rahman. “But the message is definitely there. It’s there for a reason.”
