Governors Immortalized as Bobbleheads for Coronavirus Response
The 7-inch bobbleheads, depicting Govs. Andrew Cuomo (New York), Gavin Newsom (California), Mike DeWine (Ohio) and Tony Evers (Wisconsin), are expected to ship in July. National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
Connecting state and local government leaders
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum immortalized four governors as bouncy-headed figurines for their state leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tony Evers is the first-term governor of Wisconsin, a Democrat, a lifelong educator—and, per his Twitter bio, a bobblehead enthusiast with a collection on display at both the capitol and the governor’s mansion.
As of Friday, he can add his own likeness to that stash. Evers, along with Govs. Andrew Cuomo (New York), Gavin Newsom (California) and Mike DeWine (Ohio), has been recreated in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s governor collection, depicting leaders “who have been leading their respective states during the coronavirus pandemic.”
The 7-inch bobbleheads, unveiled Friday on the organization’s online store, cost $25 apiece, with $5 from each sale earmarked for the Protect The Heroes fund, which supplies health-care workers with personal protective equipment. The museum had previously raised $160,000 for the fund through sales of bobbleheads depicting Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House.
"During these unprecedented times, we want to continue to raise funds for an amazing cause while putting a smile on people’s faces with bobbleheads,” Phil Sklar, CEO and co-founder of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. “We received a lot of requests to make bobbleheads of these four governors who have been instrumental in the continued fight against Covid-19, so we’re excited to be unveiling these bobbleheads today.”
Each governor is depicted at a coronavirus press conference—DeWine and Newsom standing at podiums, and Evers and Cuomo seated at tables.
Evers, who grew up an hour north of the Milwaukee-based museum, said he was thrilled to be immortalized as a bouncy-headed figurine.
“As a bobblehead collector and enthusiast myself, it is absolutely an honor to join the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum roster alongside some governors who I think are doing an excellent job leading their respective states and listening to the science and public health experts to keep their people safe,” he said by email. “I want to thank the folks at the National Bobblehead HOF here in Wisconsin for joining in the fight against Covid-19 and supporting or frontline health-care workers.”
Cuomo was not available for comment, but Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to the governor, said the honor was appreciated.
“Sounds like a good cause,” he said. “We’ll try not to let it get to our heads.”
Newsom and DeWine did not respond to requests for comment.
The bobbleheads are expected to ship in July.
Kate Elizabeth Queram is a Staff Correspondent for Route Fifty and is based in Washington, D.C.
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