“As a voter, I make it a priority to stay informed,” Swift shared with her 283 million followers, stating: “I’ll be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election.”
She praised Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader,” emphasizing that the country could achieve more under calm, stable leadership rather than chaos.
Swift also encouraged her fans to register to vote. She addressed concerns over AI-generated images shared by Donald Trump in August that falsely depicted her and her fans supporting his campaign. “This brought my fears about AI and misinformation to the surface,” she said. “It made me realize I need to be clear about my voting intentions.”
She watched the debate between Harris and Trump and urged fans to research the candidates’ positions on key issues.
Signing off humorously as “Childless cat lady,” a reference to remarks by Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, Swift shared a picture of herself with her cat, Benjamin Button. Vance had previously criticized childless Democratic leaders, calling them “miserable cat ladies.”
The Trump campaign dismissed her endorsement, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt saying it reflected the Democratic party’s alignment with wealthy elites. However, she noted, “There are many Swifties for Trump across America.”
Swift previously supported Democratic candidates in 2018 and endorsed Joe Biden in 2020. Until now, she had not publicly backed a candidate for 2024.
Republican congressman Matt Gaetz responded to Swift’s endorsement by saying, “I love her songs, but I prefer a world where liberals create my art and conservatives create the laws.”
Some of Swift’s fanbase had already mobilized in support of Harris, with the Swifties for Kamala Coalition launching in late August, raising over $138,000 for Harris through a virtual rally featuring Carole King, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, expressed gratitude for Swift’s support on MSNBC, noting, “I’m also a fellow cat owner,” and praised her courage as the kind needed in America.
In 2012, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Maryland studied the impact of celebrity endorsements on elections, focusing on Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008. They found it contributed around a million votes to Obama’s campaign.
Swift, particularly popular among Democrats, may have a similar influence. A Fox News poll from October 2023 showed 55% of voters, including 68% of Democrats, held a favorable view of her, though Republicans were more divided.
Cayce Myers, a public relations professor at Virginia Tech, commented that Swift’s endorsement might resonate with younger Gen Z voters, particularly given her focus on women’s rights, an issue aligned with Democratic values.
