As a global star, Taylor Swift‘s influence is truly uncanny. The singing empress, whose fandom comprises millions of devoted fans all over the world, has time and again proven the remarkable impact she has on the country — thanks to her galaxy-sized fandom’s allegiance to her.
As the 2024 elections approach, Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris has created quite a few headlines. Many have questioned if her political stance is going to affect the elections at all. Here’s what history says when it comes to Swift’s impact on the political landscape and what her endorsement of Harris could mean for the Democratic party this election season.
Taylor Swift’s Endorsement Of Kamala Harris
On 11 September, after much speculation, Taylor Swift created headlines by openly supporting Kamala Harris and her presidency as the pop star posted to millions of her followers and fans on Instagram. She even clarified why she has chosen to vote for Harris.
She wrote, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.“
Swift’s endorsement had its share of cons as she was put on blast by a number of individuals, including Donald Trump who openly criticized her political ideology. As her support for Harris continued to convert into more endorsements for the Democrats, here’s what the figures say about her impact on the political landscape.
How Has Taylor Swift’s Political Standing Affected Elections In The Past
Taylor Swift’s ability to reach a wide audience was evident last year when she sent a quick statement on Instagram on National Voter Registration Day 2023, urging her followers to register to vote. Vote.org reported that there were 35,252 new registrations on that day, which is 23% more than there were on the corresponding day in 2022.
Though it’s uncertain if the proportion of registrations is anyhow linked to Swift’s message, Vote.org saw a 1,226% increase in participation in the hour after the post. This is a clear indication of Swift’s possible influence on the outcome in November.
Given that a large portion of Swift’s fan base consists of younger Americans — millennials and Gen Z — this is especially significant. This election will mark the first time in the lives of millions of Gen Z voters who are set to cast a vote this year. Swift’s endorsement and announcement might be a push of encouragement for many new voters.
Taylor Swift’s Past Political Stances
Taylor Swift made her very first political statement in 2018, when she criticized Tennessee Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn and extended her support behind Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.
She wrote an Instagram post about why she changed her political silence. “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.”
Swift wrote an open letter on June 1st, 2019, pleading with Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander to defend LGBTQ rights by endorsing the Equality Act, a law designed to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Part of the letter read, “I personally reject the President’s stance that his administration ‘supports equal treatment of all’ but that the Equality Act ‘in its current form is filled with poison pills that threaten to undermine parental and conscience rights… That statement implies that there is something wrong with being anything other than heterosexual and cisgender, which is an incredibly harmful message to send to a nation full of healthy and loving families with same-sex, non binary or transgender parents, sons or daughters.”
In an essay she published after she turned 30, via Elle, Swift opened up about how she started to speak up about politics. Titled ‘30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30‘, the essay read, “I took a lot of time educating myself on the political system and the branches of government that are signing off on bills that affect our day-to-day life. I saw so many issues that put our most vulnerable citizens at risk, and felt like I had to speak up to try and help make a change.”
Who Did Taylor Swift Support In The 2020 Elections?
Taylor Swift was one of the biggest voices during the 2020 elections as she extended her support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In an interview with V Magazine she said, “I will proudly vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in this year’s presidential election. Under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs.”
Swift’s support obviously was a significant, if not huge, contribution to the Democrat party’s big win in 2020. As Americans now brace themselves for the November elections, a win for the Harris-Walz Presidency seems likely, with or without Swift.
The Presidential elections will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
