Colin Kaepernick changes stance on voting, says Zohran Mamdani 'inspires' him
Colin Kaepernick Reconsiders Voting, Highlights New York City Leader as Political Inspiration
Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who sparked a national conversation when he knelt during the national anthem in 2016, has publicly revised his position on voting in his forthcoming memoir, The Perilous Fight. In interviews with NBC News, the athlete‑turned‑activist explained why he now regards his earlier decision to abstain from the ballot as “irresponsible” and singled out New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of a public official who “moves the needle” for progressive change.
Kaepernick first made headlines in 2016, when he announced that he would not vote in that year's presidential contest. “I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote,” he told reporters in November, adding that “I was against oppression, I was against the system of oppression. I’m not going to show support for that system. And to me, the oppressor isn’t going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression.” The former quarterback’s refusal to cast a ballot was rooted in a broader critique of systemic inequities he felt were perpetuated by the electoral process itself.
He also voiced strong disapproval of the 2016 candidates, describing President Trump as “openly racist” and criticizing Hillary Clinton for using the phrase “super predators” to defend the 1994 crime bill signed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Those comments were widely reported and fueled debate over how public figures can influence the political climate without participating directly in elections.
In his new book, Kaepernick reflects on how the decision to abstain from voting had real‑world consequences. “The realization coming out of the 2016 election is how significant the implications can be of not voting, even if you don’t fully think this candidate represents you, and I’ve seen that,” he told NBC. “We’ve seen it with the Supreme Court. We’ve seen it with federal judges.” He added that “part of trying to seek the best way for us to move forward and have impact is also realizing the moments where the intention of the perspective was right, but the strategy behind it actually wasn’t.”
The quarterback said he eventually changed his mind and cast ballots in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, supporting the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. “I voted for Biden and Harris in 2020 and 2024,” he confirmed, citing the need for tangible political influence in an era of shifting judicial power and social justice challenges.
Beyond his own voting record, Kaepernick highlighted a younger political figure as a source of inspiration. He praised Zohran Mamdani, who the athlete described as a 34‑year‑old socialist now serving as the mayor of New York City, for his approach to governance. “When we talk about leaders that are moving the needle right now, I think we’re seeing real impact coming out of Mamdani,” Kaepernick said. “It is very refreshing for a lot of people to see someone in a political role saying, ‘I am prioritizing the people’s needs. I’m going to hold people accountable to that, and we are just going to execute and deliver on this over and over again.’”
He added that Mamdani’s leadership style could motivate a broader swath of the electorate to engage in the political process. “Ultimately, I think a lot of those people who are out there that say, ‘Hey, this doesn’t represent me, I’m not voting, or I don’t feel great about the politicians out there,’ it’s because they aren’t seeing people move in that way. The more that we see that come, we’ll see more and more people involved and excited about what is happening in the political sphere.” Kaepernick suggested that increased visibility of leaders who actively pursue public interests could help break the cycle of apathy and disengagement among voters who previously felt excluded from the political dialogue.
The memo, which is expected to be released in early 2024, will offer Kaepernick’s personal narrative and his critique of the NFL’s stance toward his activism, a subject he has described as a form of “blackballing.” In a broader sense, the former quarterback’s public evolution underscores a growing sentiment among some activists that civic participation—whether through the ballot box or through community engagement—remains essential to effecting systemic change.
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Kaepernick’s shift in viewpoint and his endorsement of a new generation of leaders like Mamdani may resonate with a demographic that has historically felt marginalized by the political system. Whether this will translate into a measurable uptick in voter turnout remains to be seen, but his candid reflection on the past decade’s political dynamics provides a compelling case study in the intersection of sport, activism, and civic responsibility.