The History of Campaign Buttons
Although you might think that showing your support for a political candidate with a button is a relatively new idea, it actually goes as far back as our original founding father, George Washington.
His supporters were present at his inauguration in droves wearing brass buttons reading “G.W.—Long Live the President.” And ever since, their popularity has yet to wane. As the technology improved, these campaign buttons became increasingly complex, quickly incorporating pictures of the political candidates.
The first election where buttons were widely used as a campaign tool was in 1896 between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. They have been seen on the campaign trail ever since. In recent years, there has been a shift to campaign stickers, because they can be produced en masse for rallies and other political events.
People who want a more permanent alternative to campaign stickers still turn to campaign buttons as the primary way to show their political support.