This Halloween, more political candidates want to be Superman than anyone else

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Each year, Ballotpedia sends out its Candidate Connection survey to thousands of political candidates nationwide. The survey asks candidates thoughtful questions about their political philosophy and provides valuable information to voters making tough decisions at the ballot box. More than 6,400 candidates have completed the survey this year, and more continue to do so.

Aside from questions about what motivates them on political and personal levels, candidates can also answer some light-hearted questions. One of those questions was, If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Unsurprisingly, a vast majority of candidates chose Superman. In fact, in the top 10 list, only two fictional characters chosen didn’t have enhanced abilities (unless you include Sherlock Holmes’ intellect, James Bond’s imperviousness, and Scooby Doo’s ability to speak) as normal characteristics. Only To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch and Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope were selected as normal, everyday alter egos.

The top 10 list includes:

• 151 candidates would be Superman.
• 83 would be Wonder Woman.
• 77 would be Atticus Finch.
• 72 would be Batman.
• 34 would be Sherlock Holmes.
• 26 would be Harry Potter.
• 23 would be James Bond.
• 12 would be Leslie Knope.
• 8 would be Yoda.
• 5 would be Scooby Doo.

This year, Wonder Woman and Atticus Finch overtook Batman in 2024. Seventy-three said they would be Wonder Woman in 2022, compared to 83 in 2024. Atticus Finch was more popular with 2024 candidates. Eleven candidates said they would be Atticus Finch in 2022, compared to 77 in 2024. Batman was less popular among 2024 candidates. Seventy-seven candidates said they would be Batman in 2022, compared to 72 in 2024. Sherlock Holmes was more popular in 2024. Twenty-six candidates said they would be Sherlock Holmes in 2022, compared to 34 in 2024.

A reminder that tomorrow, November 1, is the last day to early vote; failing that, you’ll need to prepare to stand in line next Tuesday for so long that even members of the Justice League of America would be hard-pressed to withstand. Stay tuned to Woodlands Online for ongoing coverage of the election season.