Even in the halls of Congress, elected officials are electing to wear sneakers more often. Beverly Hart, who worked on Capitol Hill for five years, is now a TikTok creator known for fun, politically themed TikToks such as “Republican or Democrat: Sneaker Edition.” Here, her shoe observations.
Why more senators and representatives may be wearing sneakers:
“There is still the old guard in Congress, members who are always in heels and dress shoes. But some in the 40-to-50 range—this is young for Congress—are in sneakers. I think it’s mostly because they’re walking [to work] from Navy Yard, taking the Metro, whereas a lot of older members have drivers.”
On women politicians and sneakers:
“Any female politician wearing sneakers is a political statement,” says Hart, who says she sees more Dems in kicks. “It’s the equivalent—Obama used to do this, and Beto O’Rourke—when a [male politician] in a town hall takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves, like, he’s a man of the people. I think sneakers are now doing [that] for women. The best example is Kamala Harris, who is always in sneakers.”
What Democratic women wear vs. Republican women:
“The societal pressure for women to wear heels affects both sides. But the pressure to dress in a more traditional or ‘feminine’ way affects conservative women more. If I see a woman at work in sneakers—probably a Democrat. There is no universal dress code, so each office makes up its own. I know Republican offices that still require women to wear pantyhose.”
Democrats vs. Republicans
One of Beverly Hart’s TikToks offered tongue-in-cheek generalizations about how to tell a Democrat from a Republican by their sneakers. Here, her thoughts–from our interview as well as her TikTok–on five styles she sees on the Hill.
“Allbirds is the number-one shoe I’ve seen members wear–100 percent bipartisan.”
“Anything vintage,” says Hart, like Air Jordans, or “thrifted or secondhand–100 percent a Democrat.”
“Adidas Sambas is a city Democrat–like Chicago, New York, maybe LA. A mail-in-ballot kind of Democrat.”
“Golden Goose? Republican. I went to University of South Carolina–it reminds me of all the sorority sisters.”
