Lena Dunham, the star of HBO’s “Girls” and a well-documented Hillary Clinton supporter, will campaign for the former secretary of state’s presidential bid in Iowa on January 9, according to a Clinton aide.
Dunham will make two stops: One in Des Moines and another in Iowa City.
The actress has been a Clinton supporter for much of the former first lady’s campaign, making semi-regular stops at her campaign headquarters in Brooklyn. The Des Moines Register first reported Dunham’s trip.
The campaign is also promoting the opportunity for Clinton’s Iowa supporters to meet the TV star. In an email from Michelle Kleppe, Clinton’s Iowa Organizing Director, supporters are told that by signing up for the Clinton campaign’s text updates — the program the campaign uses to promote events and mobilize supporters — they will be entered into a raffle to meet Dunham.
Dunham interviewed Clinton earlier this year for her personal newsletter, taking to the former First Lady about her campaign, her life and whether or not she considers herself a feminist.
Clinton encouraged women to get more involved in politics during the sit down, preaching pragmatism over passion.
“Whenever I’m talking to young women about politics, I always say, look, you don’t have to run for office, you don’t have to be actively involved, but you do have to exercise your brain in deciding what you believe and who you will support,” Clinton said. “And sometimes, it is choices between people that none of whom excite you, but study it enough to figure out, OK, if I vote for this person over that person, I’m more likely to see progress on something I care about.”
This trip is seemingly aimed at young voters, particularly young women who watch Dunham’s show.
Recent polls have shown an age gap between Clinton and Bernie Sanders, her top Democratic opponent, with the 74-year old Vermont senator winning more support from people 45 and younger and Clinton being favored with people 45 and older.
Dunham is the most recent in a string of celebrities that have traveled to Iowa to stump for Clinton. “Scandal” star Tony Goldwyn spent two days in the Hawkeye State for Clinton earlier this month and Katy Perry performed for Clinton supporters before the key Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner in October.
Clinton also stopped by the set of Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” another show favored by millenials, taping a cameo last week for the show’s upcoming third season.
“Girls” fans may find Dunham’s trip particularly interesting. The character she plays in the show at one point attends the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, though the crew was not allowed to film on the actual University of Iowa campus.
