Taylor Swift’s Endorsement of Kamala Harris
By: Sally Hoagland
Pop icon Taylor Swift has made sparks fly after endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, creating conversations across the entertainment and political industries. Taylor Swift is no stranger when it comes to expressing her political views, using her social media platforms not only promotes her music but also expresses political issues. Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris marks a new era in American politics, with the possibility of inspiring young voters, highlighting growing issues, and helping to encourage political engagement throughout the country.
After the presidential debate on September 10th, 2024, Taylor Swift posted on Instagram to a following of 283 million people. In her post, she reflected on the debate, her concerns, and her hopes for the future of this country. “I’m voting for [Kamala Harris] because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” Her post then proceeded to receive over 11 million likes and 1.5 million shares. This post may surprise some, but this is not the first time Swift has expressed her political views. She has consistently voiced her support for gender equality, social justice, and climate change. By endorsing Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to be Vice President and run for President, Swift promotes the message that women should and can hold positions of power in this society.
Both Harris and Swift share a commitment to fighting systemic racism in America. In 2020, during the George Floyd Murder and other surrounding racial tensions in America, Swift posted on X “Racial injustice has been ingrained deeply into local and state governments, and changes MUST be made there.” She has long condemned racial injustice, and her support for Kamala Harris reiterates the importance of having leaders who support diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both of these powerful women have shared ideals for America: Harris needs the votes and Swift is helping her obtain them.
“That’s the type of courage we need in America,” Minnesota Governor and Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz said after hearing on live MSNBC about Swift’s endorsement post. In years prior during the Biden campaign, there was always a lack of voter turnout among the younger generations. This theme has also continued in Harris and Walz’s campaign. A major concern for them is voter turnout, particularly among younger voters.
When it comes to voting, Swift is no stranger to being an advocate, “especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered!” Even though Swift endorses Harris, she still encourages her followers to vote no matter their political opinion. Swift’s fanbase is mainly made up of Millennials and Gen Z’ers, and these are the age groups that Harris and Walz desperately need to mobilize to win office. Following Swift’s post, vote.org, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, recorded over 35,000 registered voters. They also recorded a 1,226% increase in voter registrations within the hour after her post. NPR has been keeping track of registered voters and increasing of them and made the discovery that, the number of 18-year-olds registered was more than double in 2022. This shows that Swift is widely influential among the younger population and that people are listening to what she has to say.
Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris has the potential to inspire young voter mobilization and help express progressive issues. Her powerful influence among the younger generations of voters can help encourage hesitant voters to participate in elections. Her influence combined with Kamala Harris’ policies, could inspire the new generation to help shape the future of America.
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