Kamala Harris has officially joined the 2024 presidential race following President Joe Biden’s announcement in July about stepping down amid concerns about his age and mental fitness. With Harris preparing to face off against former President Donald Trump, a wave of Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, have voiced their support for her, some even calling on the singer to publicly back her.
Luana Ribeira, founder of Dauntless PR, emphasized the significance of social media buzz and celebrity endorsements in creating an upbeat and engaging atmosphere for Harris’s campaign. She believes Swift’s endorsement is on the horizon.
“While Taylor hasn’t officially endorsed Kamala yet, she supported the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020, so it’s likely she will again. Her backing could spark interest among those who might not have planned to vote,” Ribeira noted.
A TikTok account named @Swifties4Kamala popped up soon after Biden endorsed Harris. Though not official, this account describes itself as a coalition of Swift fans aiming to elect Democratic candidates, including Harris. As of now, it boasts over 104,800 followers.
“Swifties for Harris is committed to protecting democracy by helping progressive candidates get elected at all levels,” reads one post on their account. The movement has expanded to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with tens of thousands of followers across both.
Ribeira explained why celebrity endorsements matter: they serve as trusted personal recommendations. “If someone you admire supports a candidate, you’re more likely to pay attention, especially since most voters won’t know candidates personally,” she said.
Taylor Swift has built a reputation as a political influencer, especially noted on National Voter Registration Day when she encouraged her followers to register, leading to a significant surge of over 35,000 registrations—an impressive increase compared to previous years.
Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org, commented that this spike in registrations reflects a growing voter enthusiasm, particularly among newly eligible young voters.
Though Swift has yet to comment on the 2024 election, her past support for the Democratic ticket suggests she may align with Harris again. In 2020, she publicly showed her support for Harris and Biden, even sharing a photo of herself with custom cookies featuring their campaign logo.
“So apt that it’s come out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @KamalaHarris by yelling at the TV a lot. And I also have custom cookies,” she captioned her post.