How Taylor Swift and Her Fans Could Influence the US Election
Noel Drake, a 29-year-old from Utah, was feeling disconnected from politics before this year. She had felt utterly disillusioned during the 2020 presidential election. But things changed after Taylor Swift and her devoted fanbase, the Swifties, came into the picture.
Noel shared how interacting with Swifties online has altered her perspective. “The sense of community I found through Swifties has transformed how I engage with politics this election cycle,” she explained.
After Swift publicly endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, Noel began following a fan-led group called “Swifties for Kamala.” Although not officially tied to Harris’s campaign, the group maintains communication with the campaign staff. Inspired by fellow Swifties, Noel has even gotten involved in local political campaigning in her home state of Utah.
Noel’s story is not unique. Dozens of voters, like her, have said they were motivated by Swift’s posts and the online fan community to participate more actively in politics, whether by voting or engaging in activism. But fandom doesn’t always translate into uniform political views.
For an episode of BBC Radio 4’s “Why Do You Hate Me USA,” the transformation of one superfan, Irene Kim, into a political strategist is explored. Irene, co-founder of the “Swifties for Kamala” group, spearheaded efforts to rally Swift fans behind Kamala Harris’s campaign. But how effective have her and her team’s tactics been?
The rise of online communities like these represents a modern twist on political campaigning. The personal touch of a celebrity endorsement, especially from someone like Taylor Swift, can feel authentic to fans in ways that traditional campaign ads do not. Research from Harvard’s Kennedy School indicates that celebrities, due to their connection to the public outside of politics, are well-positioned to combat voter apathy.
Swift’s endorsement, particularly her support for Harris, has indeed had an impact. Within just 24 hours of Swift’s Instagram post endorsing Harris, nearly 340,000 people visited a voter registration website via a custom link.
However, this type of support is not without its drawbacks. A Quinnipiac University poll showed that while Swift’s backing made 9% of respondents more enthusiastic about Harris, 13% said it made them less enthusiastic. Similarly, Elon Musk’s endorsement of Trump had a mixed impact—13% felt more encouraged, while 21% felt the opposite. The ultimate influence of celebrity endorsements, however, won’t be clear until the election results roll in.
Irene Kim, alongside her fellow Swifties, has been targeting swing states, where a small margin of votes could decide the outcome of the election. One such supporter, Peggy Rowe from Arizona, says Harris’s stance on abortion rights solidified her support. And it’s not just online campaigning—Swifties for Kamala is also showing up in real life. At events, they hand out friendship bracelets, a nod to Swift’s Eras tour, where fans traded bracelets as symbols of unity.
The Swifties for Kamala group has already raised over $200,000 for Harris’s campaign, and their goal is to reach 22 million voter contacts by Election Day.
Despite the overwhelming support from many fans, not all Swifties are aligned politically. Some, like Bri from Massachusetts, remain loyal to the Republican Party. Bri believes that while Swift is entitled to her opinions, as such a powerful public figure, she should avoid political endorsements during election seasons. She maintains that political differences shouldn’t break fan bonds, but it’s clear not all conversations online are friendly.
Ms. Kim explained that online debates have become almost a rite of passage for Swift fans. Still, Swifties for Kamala has introduced guidelines to keep interactions civil, aiming to bridge political divides where possible.
As this election season heats up, the role of fandom and celebrity in politics continues to evolve, and it’s clear that for many voters, Swift’s influence runs deep. How this will shape the final outcome is something we’ll have to wait and see.
