A sweet candidate: Saratoga Springs shop says vote for doughnuts this November

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Natascha Pearl and Glenn Severance aren’t asking anyone to back a Republican or Democratic candidate this November.

Nope. They’re asking residents to vote by pastry — not party. 

“Governor of donuts,” Severance said. 

Pearl and Severance co-own Darling Doughnuts, a shop that opened in July 2020, specializing in handcrafted doughnuts, with a variety of weekly flavors.

The business has been catching customers’ eyes with its satirical political signs placed throughout the city. 

Among all the political signs stand some red, white and blue signs that say, “Vote Darling Doughnuts – Doughnuts for Saratoga.” 

“There’s no other time of year where you’re allowed to go out and stick signs along the side of the road for free,” he said. 

They started putting out the signs about a week ago, according to Pearl. 

The two owners said they put out the signs, in part to bring customers to their shops, but also to lighten the mood around what can be a contentious time of year with elections around the corner. 

“We’re a small company and we have to think really hard about where we spend money and how we do it,” Severance said. “Our brand is really important to us so we like to do unique and slightly different things.” 

Severance’s background, former marketing director of satirical digital media company and newspaper The Onion, gave light to the idea for the signs. 

“It’s fun,” he said. 

More: All News | Everything Saratoga Springs-Ballston Spa

The company even added a photo element to the signs, so anyone who takes a photo with a sign and posts it to their Instagram can get a free doughnut by showing the employees in the shop.

“Those are the legs of the campaign,” Severance said. 

Among the shops many offerings are flavors like the spicy churro, which has a slight kick to it from the little bit of cayenne added to the recipe, and the Dunkaroos doughnut, which elicits childhood memories with the funfetti frosting glazed doughnut with vanilla wafer crumble, buttercream swirl and a full vanilla wafer to top it off.

Pearl said people are just starting to notice the signs but the feedback has been good so far. 

“One person was like, ‘I almost drove off the road because I thought it was so funny,’ or said like, ‘I would never have a political lawn sign but I would put this in my yard,’” Pearl said. 

One of the people that got a sign was Eric Stranburg, who placed it on his ex wife’s lawn.

“She loved it,” he said.

He said the sign brought a smile to his face and made him laugh. 

“Couldn’t we all use a good joke right now?,” he asked. 

But the sign also made him want to get out and vote on Election Day and then go get a doughnut.

While his two girls love the galaxy glaze, the customer favorite according to the owners, Stranburg said his favorite is a fritter.

Saratoga resident Charlie Samuels also got a sign to put on his lawn. 

“I think it accomplishes both an artistic and experimental good on the seriousness of politics and promotes the lightheartedness of eating doughnuts,” he said. 

While Samuels said he only eats doughnuts about three times a year, he usually stops into Darling Doughnuts when he does. He’s a lover of classic flavors like a plain, glazed or apple cider doughnuts. 

Pearl said no matter what a person’s political party affiliation may be, most everyone likes doughnuts. 

“In a tense political climate, we can all just have a little lighthearted fun,” she said. 

She also said it reminds people that they’re still open. 

Severance recommends the Boston cream doughnut when it’s available.

More: All News | Everything Saratoga Springs-Ballston Spa

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