Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/Eric Thayer/Getty Images
Rob Gronkowski in front of people holding Turning Point USA signs
Rob Gronkowski was one of the tens of millions of Americans who showed up at the polls on Election Day in 2026. However, he was forced to do some damage control after his appearance at a voting site in New Hampshire led some people to believe he’d aligned with the conservative political organization that was founded by Charlie Kirk.
Many professional athletes refuse to cater to the “Stick To Sports” crowd and attempt to use their platform to push the ideas they believe in while wearing their political beliefs on their sleeves.
That’s the case for pros on both sides of the aisle, and some of them made their voices heard ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which featured some candidates hailing from the world of athletics, including former NFL kicker Jay Feely, ex-ESPN reporter Michele Tafoya, and retired MLB player Mark Texeria (the last of whom was the only to win their race).
There are also plenty of high-profile figures that prefer to straddle the fence while keeping their personal beliefs private, but they still have the opportunity to make an impact on the civics front by attempting to drum up excitement for the act of voting without pushing for any particular people on the ballot.
That is the route Rob Gronkowski was trying to go on Tuesday, but he had to issue a statement after people seemingly read a bit too far into some photos and videos that surfaced after he popped up in New Hampshire.
Rob Gronkowski denied he has any ties to Turning Point USA after interacting with fans near one of the organization’s tents in New Hampshire on Election Day
New Hampshire was one of the states where a seat in the Senate was up for grabs during the 2026 midterms, and more than 600,000 people cast a vote in the various races that were on the ballot this year.
Some voters who showed up to polling sites in the towns of Bedford, Goffstown, and Londonderry on Tuesday morning got an unexpected surprise courtesy of Rob Gronkowski, who showed up to pose with fans and sign autographs before one police department issued a quintessentially New England traffic alert upon his departure.
Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski greets voters at the polls in Bedford, New Hampshire, while encouraging residents to get out and vote.
#patriots #robgronkowski #voting #electionday https://t.co/sLSibMyJtv
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) November 3, 2026
Rob Gronkowski Has Left the Polls – Heavy Traffic Around High School https://t.co/GdJ1OCR6A8
— Bedford NH Police (@BedfordNHPolice) November 3, 2026
However, there were questions surrounding his motivation for showing up, as one meet-and-greet was held in the vicinity of a tent set up by Turning Point USA, the conservative political foundation that was co-founded by Charlie Kirk and has been run by his wife, Erika, since he was shot and killed during an event in Utah last year.
WOW Rob Gronkowski sightings at New Hampshire polling places!
TIME TO GO VOTE https://t.co/KdKyFf0cJ3
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) November 3, 2026
Multiple outlets reported Gronk was courted by Turning Point USA along with other athletes with ties to the region, including former Patriots teammate Danny Amendola and retired Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis, as part of its effort to drum up support for Republican candidates in New Hampshire.
However, he stressed “It doesn’t matter what party you are voting for” while speaking with a local outlet during his stop in Bedford.
On Thursday, the future Hall of Famer denied he had any links to Turning Point USA in a statement he posted on Instagram, saying neither he nor his girlfriend Camille “are endorsed by or affiliated with the organization” and simply met with fans near its tent outside Goffstown High School.
If you’re curious, the Senate seat and two House seats that were in contention were all won by Democrats, although Republican Kelly Ayotte was reelected as the governor of New Hampshire.