Just hours after the Trump-Harris debate, Taylor Swift posted on Instagram addressing her 280 million followers about rumors of her political affiliation, encouraging people to do their own research and announcing that she will be voting for Kamala Harris this November.
Since young voters are an important factor in this year’s neck-and-neck presidential election, Swift’s endorsement may influence the outcome.
“She [Swift] represents a voting block that is a little bit less engaged,” said Kevin Spann, a lecturer of political science. “A lot of people don’t become politically active until they’re in their 30s.”
The New York Times reported that 27,000 people registered to vote through a link that Swift provided within 24 hours of the post. This number shocked professionals, as it is over triple the ordinary daily average.
“People are either going to vote or they’re not,” Spann said. “If you’re a hardcore Donald Trump voter, I don’t know who could possibly endorse Harris to make you flip, and vice versa. But there are people in the middle, and this is where endorsements matter.”
This year’s presidential election is incredibly close. Ever since Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the democratic candidate this summer, the partisan votes have been nearly evenly matched.
“We think anything from a clear Trump victory to a clear Harris win is possible,” stated election website 270toWin.
“A lot of people feel stuck this year,” said Lucy Gumbel, a sophomore political science major. “Many citizens dislike both presidential candidates and claim they do not plan to vote this fall or are still unsure of who to vote for. So, it might take something like an endorsement to get people to vote.”
“If I was on the fence about who to vote for, a celebrity endorsement wouldn’t necessarily change my mind,” said Kendall Wiley, a sophomore art major. “But I would take their opinion into consideration, research their arguments and make a decision for myself.”
Celebrity endorsements are not a new concept or a new factor in elections. Some of the most famous examples are Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of former President Barack Obama in 2008 and Kid Rock’s endorsement of former President Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2024 elections. Following Swift’s endorsement, other public figures joined her in voicing their political opinions, including Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Stevie Nicks, Aubrey Plaza and Jaime Lee Curtis.
However, Swift has one of the largest fan bases in the world. Her recent tour, The Eras Tour, had 152 shows that sold nearly 70,000 tickets each. The tour became the highest grossing tour ever, reaching over $1 billion in revenue. Merchandise sales alone profited $240 million. In 2023, Swift was named Forbes’ “Biggest Musical Artist in the World.”
Swift carries influence that few other public figures have ever carried and could have the power to sway an election.
