As A Swiftie, This Is What Taylor Swift’s Endorsement Of Kamala Harris Means
The tendentious concept of separating the art from the artist is one that music fans will be accustomed to navigating, and one that has never been more important than during an election year. Using a musician’s lyrical and melodical lens to find comfort, meaning and direction in your personal life narrative is a common experience, and one that has found new significance during the unprecedented rise of Swiftdom we’ve seen since Taylor Swift began her Eras Tour last year. Where Swift has gone, Swifities have followed, both in the literal (see the 'Swiftonomics' of her lucrative global tour) and metaphorical sense (see the camaraderie from sharing friendship bracelets to learning collective inside jokes via witty, lyrical chants). Therefore, it’s particularly poignant when a musician like Swift expresses political beliefs that have the power to either divide or unite her legion of fans.
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On Tuesday night, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to declare her endorsement for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris following the vice president’s debate with former president Donald Trump. ‘If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most,’ her Instagram post reads. ‘As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.’
For Swift’s worldwide fanbase, finding the sweet spot between politics and music has been a tricky intersection to steer in the last week. Images of Swift hugging American soccer player Brittany Mahomes, who Trump thanked for her endorsement and defence via X (formerly known as Twitter) this month, sparked an abundance of criticism from fans online. The two friends were spotted together during the Men's Singles Final match at the US Open last weekend, and have since incited a debate among Swifties about the pair’s differing political perspectives.
Although Swift was yet to endorse any candidate at this stage, she has been no stranger to publicising her political standpoint in the past. She first came out in support of the Democratic candidate for the senate during the 2018 midterms in Tennessee and was vocal about her decision to vote for former-President Joe Biden during the 2020 election. Her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana saw the pop star wrestle with her team about her emotional decision to engage with politics in the public sphere (and its consequences), in which she stated: ‘I need to be on the right side of history.’
Since then, the 34-year-old has demonstrated a significant sway over the political engagement of her fans, but not necessarily in a specific direction. A survey from last year found that 53% of American adults are fans of Swift and 16% identify as ‘avid’ fans. Her appeal, the survey concluded, stretches far across the political spectrum and she boasts as many male fans as she does female and almost as many Republicans as Democrats. In September 2023, Swift posted a message to her Instagram account encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. The post led to more than 35,000 registrations on the non-partisan website Vote.org, a 23% increase on the year before.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that the singer's friendship with Mahomes has prompted reflections around how friendships can endure differing political friction – and whether they should. Fans were seemingly united in their disappointments online, a demonstration that for Swifties, the art and the artist cannot be so effortlessly divided; particularly as much of Swift’s discography, particularly her seventh studio album ‘Lover’, convey messages of LGBTQ+ support and female empowerment. It also set an intense spotlight on Swift’s personal voting intentions; a call she has now responded to.
‘Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site,’ she wrote in her endorsement of Harris. ‘It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.’
She went on to say that she would cast her 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.’
For many Democratic Swifties her post prompted a sigh of relief; a confirmation that their playlists’ reigning artist shares a similar set of hopes for the future of the American landscape. For Republicans, however, it likely resulted in feelings of unease and conflict.
For myself, and many ‘Swifties’ beyond the US, our stances on the upcoming election on November 4 cannot be materialised into a meaningful vote. Fortunately, however, Swift’s endorsement means that she will remain on my Spotify playlists and that I can continue to buy into her tours, merchandise and upcoming re-records without being forced to question my personal beliefs to women's and the LGBTQ+ community's rights.
It’s clear Swift has set the wheels in motion to encourage her vast fanbase to engage, vote and assess the upcoming election in the context of their own lives. Whether it’ll have the impact she hopes for, is yet to be seen. ‘I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,’ she says. ‘Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.’
While Swift is far from the apex of musical activism, although her influence and voice in politics has grown in recent years, it’s important that Swifties recognise the power they have in buying into the artists that they listen to, see live and support. Their support, like money on an Eras Tour ticket, should be invested in wisely and not treated too dissimilarly to a political vote, cast thoughtfully and with intention.
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