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Taylor Swift’s Endorsement of Kamala Harris: Does Star Power Translate Into Votes?

Politics

September 26, 2024

After Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris to her 284 million Instagram followers, many wondered: will Swift’s star power translate into votes in the upcoming presidential election? Will her opinion on the candidates actually change minds? What is the Taylor Swift Effect, and how powerful is it? Let’s dive right in!

File:Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait.jpg

Image Credit: Lawrence Jackson from Wikimedia

The Dialogue

There will likely be an impact in terms of voter turn out for Gen Z-ers and millennials. Shortly after Swift made the post endorsing Kamala, the official voter registration website saw over 400,000 clicks.

Swift's caption read, “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.” Swift referred to Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader" and highlighted the importance of LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and reproductive rights.

Trump then took to the social media platform Truth Social, where he wrote, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” in all-caps, providing no further explanation.

Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, replied to Swift’s statement by saying that such a billionaire celebrity is “fundamentally disconnected from the interests of most Americans.” He then went on to say, “When grocery prices go up by 20%, it hurts most Americans, but it doesn’t hurt Taylor Swift.”

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Image Credit: Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia

Harris reacted to Taylor’s endorsement by saying, “I am very proud to have the support of Taylor Swift.” She added, “I really respect the courage she has had in her career to stand up for what she believes is right.”

The Impact on “Swifties”

Taylor Swift’s influence on Gen Z and millennial voters cannot be underestimated. First, let’s evaluate her Instagram following of 284 million, as opposed to Trump's 26 million and Harris' 18.5 million. Swift’s statement engaged Gen Z voters on social media, where they spend a significant amount of their time (in fact, the average member of Gen Z spends approximately 3 hours per day on social media). Therefore, many young people who don't consume political content may be heavily influenced by Swift’s post.

Many contend that the “celebrity effect” is harmful because it unduly influences youth and leads to a loss of identity. People should be voting for themselves and the country, not for their favorite pop star's beliefs. It is crucial to do thorough research on candidates’ policies before voting.

Swift worded her statement carefully, making sure she was not directly telling her fans who to vote for. Instead, she simply said, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.”

Part of the 14-time Grammy Award winner’s charm is that she promotes autonomy, authenticity, and self-expression. Swift chose her words wisely to make sure she was not imposing her political views on anyone. Since people are wired to crave autonomy, they may be even more likely to vote with Swift, especially if they believe it is their own free will.

Voted printed papers on white surface

Image Credit: Element5 Digital from Unplash

The Taylor Swift Phenomenon

Swift is impacting students’ views at universities around the globe. At some universities, there are entire fields of study dedicated to Swift called “Swiftology.”

Brian Donovan, a professor at the University of Kansas, for example, is teaching a class about the world-famous star. A “swiftologist” and self-proclaimed “Swiftie,” Donovan explained that after Swift was spotted with football tight end, Travis Kelce, jersey sales jumped nearly 400%. Donovan also describes the intense and obsessive loyalty to Swift that some of her fans feel: these fans seem to rally behind her for any cause she supports. Perhaps this intense loyalty is a result of how much work she put into cultivating her fan base early on in her career.

File:Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes 2024 (Enhanced, cropped) 1.jpg

Image Credit: iHeartRadioCA from Wikimedia

The University of Kansas, however, is not the only academic institution studying the Taylor Swift Phenomenon. The Department of English at Harvard University offers a class called “Taylor Swift and Her World,” which explores fan and celebrity culture. In addition to Harvard, the University of Florida, Brigham Young, Northeastern, the University of South Carolina, and more all offer Swift-centric courses.

An Uncertain Outcome

We will simply have to wait and see how great an impact Taylor Swift’s views leave on the upcoming election. Right now, all we know for sure is that her effect on the economy is significant. In less than a year, her Eras tour generated 5 billion in consumer spending. Now, we will discover if her political views have similar sway.

Typically, those who are eligible to vote for the first time vote at lower rates. Swift’s comment may ignite interest among many younger voters, who would have failed to vote otherwise. Swift’s endorsement may be just what they need to research important political issues further.

Arianna Shaprow
1,000+ pageviews

Writer since Sep, 2024 · 5 published articles

Arianna Shaprow is a poet and activist. Her poetry has been displayed in museums and featured on news outlets across the country, including ABC, Fox, CBS, and NBC.

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