At Three Brothers Bakery in Houston, election season carries a particular aroma—sugar cookies baking, destined to become more than just a treat. Since 2012, these tasty treats have doubled as ballots in what’s become a beloved local tradition: the Presidential Cookie Poll. What started as a quirky way to engage customers has transformed into a must-participate event, where patrons vote with their sweet tooth.

Bakery co-owner Bobby Jucker recalls starting this during the election between former President Barack Obama and Senator Mitt Romney. “We were trying to do something different, trying to see if we could crack the code if you will,” he says. “‘How do the people that shop, vote?’”

Indeed, cracking the code became an enticing challenge for the team at Three Brothers, a Houston staple founded in 1949 by siblings who were Holocaust survivors. Every election cycle, the bakery whips up batches of cookies, each adorned with the faces of the candidates printed in edible ink on royal icing. This year’s lineup includes, of course, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, as well as a third-party candidate: not a Kennedy, but rather the beloved Gingy, a gingerbread figure Jucker says runs on a platform of love, kindness, and a dash of whimsy.

The poll serves as a delicious barometer of Houston’s political climate, with each purchase casting a vote—and the results are as telling as they are tasty. While none of the presidential cookie polls has yet to be right, they have consistently predicted the voting nature of the four neighborhoods the bakery is located in. The conservative Tanglewood and Memorial always lead in Republican sales, while Washington and Braeswood typically skew Democrat. The 2024 election, so far, is no different, with certain areas showing strong support for Trump while others lean toward Harris. Sadly, the nonpartisan Gingy trails far behind in all locations.

As of the latest total count on September 27, Trump leads the pack with 2,715 cookies, closely followed by Harris at 2,569, and the ever-charming Gingy coming in third with 365. Earlier cookie poll results indicated a strong preference for Trump at all four locations, particularly while President Joe Biden led the Democratic Party ticket. But that all changed when Biden stepped down.

Just like the rest of us, the bakery was surprised with the Democrats’ sudden nomination change. For four days, during a period of uncertainty as to who would pick up the mantle, the Biden cookies were nixed and replaced with the political party’s signature animal, a donkey. Meanwhile, Three Brothers prepared for the announcement by creating sketches of the vice president, done by staff member Leah Kim.

While Trump’s momentum still carried on after the bid change, recent updates show a surge in support for Harris. The former president initially held a robust lead, especially in areas like Memorial, where his themed cookies outsold Harris nearly two to one at certain points. But the latest data shows a significant uptick in Harris-themed cookie sales.

In some locations, the shift is particularly stark. The Braeswood branch, initially balanced, has seen Harris cookies begin to outsell those for Trump. Similarly, the Washington store, traditionally more liberal, has further solidified its preference for Harris, with her sales now outpacing Trump’s by a noticeable margin.

Gingy serves as a barometer of political fatigue…or perhaps just the community’s love for gingerbread. While trailing significantly behind the other candidates, Gingy brings smiles and a moment of levity to the serious business of electioneering. Unfortunately, the adorable mascot’s presence also skews the results of the poll. Jucker also mentioned that sometimes people buy against their actual voting choice to take a bite of the opposing caricatures’ heads as a way to spite them.

While the poll has not always proven predictive, its fluctuating tallies offer intriguing glimpses into the local mood. The bakery keeps things interesting by updating the counts frequently on social media, stirring interest and keeping the community engaged throughout the election cycle.

Three Brothers plans to celebrate the conclusion of this whimsical yet insightful political poll with a bit of extra flair. As Election Day approaches and the final votes—cookie purchases, that is—are tallied, the bakery is preparing a special celebration for the winning candidate. “Oh yes, we’re gonna have a big banner,” Jucker shares, hinting at the possibility of more pastry products for the event.

Whether these treats will influence voter turnout or merely satisfy cravings remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: democracy has never been so delicious.