Bakery in Ohio Predicts Presidential Election Outcomes
In the swing state of Ohio, one local bakery has garnered national attention for an unusual talent: predicting presidential election outcomes. Schmidt’s Bakery, a cozy establishment in the heart of Columbus, claims it has developed the perfect recipe for forecasting election winners—through its now-famous election cookies.
For over a decade, Schmidt’s has turned its ovens toward politics, baking two types of cookies designed in the colors of the leading candidates. Customers can “vote” by purchasing cookies that represent their chosen candidate, with each sale added to a running tally that is updated daily. In a surprising twist, Schmidt’s has correctly “predicted” the winner in every election cycle since it started this tradition in 2008.
Lisa Schmidt, the bakery’s third-generation owner, shared that the cookie poll began as a playful attempt to engage the community but has turned into a surprisingly accurate measure of public sentiment. “It was supposed to be fun, but people take it seriously now,” she says. “We have customers traveling from neighboring states just to vote with a cookie!”
The bakery has seen a surge in sales during the election season, with some customers purchasing dozens of cookies to show support for their candidate—or to sway the bakery’s “poll” in their favor. With Ohio being a crucial swing state, many believe the bakery’s results might be a reflection of the state’s pulse.
Local patrons have also begun to follow the cookie count closely, adding a layer of excitement to the election season. “It feels like being part of something big, even if it’s just cookies,” says longtime customer Jim Carter. “Who would have thought that a bakery could tap into the political climate?”
While there’s no scientific basis behind Schmidt’s method, the bakery insists its “sweet poll” is often more accurate than many official surveys. They update the cookie tally each day, and according to Schmidt, the results have closely mirrored the official election outcomes every year.
Whether or not Schmidt’s Bakery’s cookies correctly forecast the winner this year, their tasty tradition has united the community and brought a lighthearted twist to the electoral process. And as election night approaches, customers continue to line up, hoping their favorite candidate will rise in the polls—one cookie at a time.
