Taylor Swift fans, often referred to as Swifties, are taking the initiative this presidential election season, rallying behind Vice President Kamala Harris without waiting for an endorsement from the pop star herself.
In a recent Zoom webinar, over 20,000 fans joined forces to raise more than $122,000 for Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Esteemed supporters included Representatives Becca Balint and Chris Deluzio, along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Ed Markey, and Elizabeth Warren, all of whom are passionate Swifties in their own right.
“I’m a Swiftie,” said singer-songwriter Carole King, who affectionately referred to Swift as her “music granddaughter.” She encouraged participants to engage with their communities by making calls and going door-to-door to support Harris’s campaign.
In a lively moment, King closed her remarks with a verse from Swift’s hit “Shake It Off,” inspiring the crowd to embrace activism. Senator Warren highlighted her favorite Swift song, “Karma,” emphasizing resilience and authenticity in the fight against bullies, a direct nod to Donald Trump.
Markey, learning from past Swiftie support during his 2020 campaign, stressed the importance of climate action, tapping into the theme of Swift’s “Snow on the Beach” to draw attention to environmental issues in New England.
Gillibrand, who has seen Swift live multiple times, joked about the singer’s songs, noting how “Karma” is not a comforting thought for Trump and underscoring the need for female empowerment, especially concerning reproductive rights.
The Swifties’ grassroots movement ignited when President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race. Co-founder Emerald Medrano, a 22-year-old Texan Swiftie, took action, commenting on how the coalition is not run by a single teenager but rather a diverse group united for change.
I feel like us U.S swifties should mass organize and help campaign for Kamala Harris and spread how horrendous project 2025 would be to help get people’s butts down to the polls in November 😭 like if we don’t want democracy to end we really need to move and push blue votes
— 🪩 eME!rald 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🍉 iso eras tour tickets (@hushmirrorball) July 21, 2024
Within a week, “Swifties for Kamala” gained significant traction on social media, boasting nearly 122,000 followers on their TikTok account. Medrano expressed how the urgency of the political climate transformed her from a passive observer to an active participant in civic engagement.
The group’s platform includes resources on becoming poll workers and information about pressing issues like reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, all while encouraging young people to get involved.
Ultimately, as Balint pointed out during the call, “We’ve got no reason to be afraid, Swifties. We can face this.” This sentiment captures the vibrant spirit of the Swiftie community as they gear up for the upcoming election, ready to make their voices heard.