Sheboygan Falls, Wis. – September 11, 2026 -- Johnsonville is running "Sausage" as a mock candidate for "Dinner 2026," a campaign built on new Harris Poll research showing Americans are worn out by both politics and nightly meal decisions.
Survey finds political fatigue is bleeding into dinner planning
The Johnsonville-commissioned National Temperature Check found 81% of Americans believe society has become too political, and 66% expect the 2026 midterms to make news even more overwhelming. Seventy-four percent say they hate political advertising, and 84% think their communities could better use the estimated $10 billion being spent on midterm ads this year.
On the dinner side, 31% of respondents say they've forgotten to plan a meal at least once in the past year due to distraction from current events. More than half, 53%, say they hate deciding what to make for dinner, and the same share wish someone would just hand them an idea.
Johnsonville positions Sausage as a low-stress dinner fix
"Sausage has a strong record: it's delicious, versatile and a great value for feeding family, friends and neighbors," said Jamie Schmelzer, Johnsonville's Vice President of Marketing. The campaign includes a 30-second TV spot, yard signs, billboards, merchandise and new recipes, spotlighting products like Johnsonville's smoked beef rope, ground Italian, smoked Beddar With Cheddar links and turkey breakfast patties.
Campaign donations go to fighting hunger, not more ads
Johnsonville is pledging $100,000 to Hunger Free America and inviting the public to make tax-deductible donations through the campaign rather than fund advertising. Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg noted that more than 48 million Americans, including one in five children, live in households that can't afford enough food.
The first 100 donors will receive a limited-edition "Sausage for Dinner" swag pack containing an apron, hat, oven mitt, buttons and bumper stickers.
The tour starts in one of the nation's busiest ad markets
The campaign trail launches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where political ad spending is projected to rise 75% over the 2024 general election, according to AdImpact and Kantar data. Lawn signs reading "Sausage for Dinner" and billboards with slogans like "Affordable Protein for the People" are already appearing in the city, with stops planned in Atlanta, Raleigh, Cincinnati and Houston ahead of the midterms.