A newer phenomenon, however, is the idea of a fandom as a voting demographic. Politicians have long tried to curry favor with young people, undecided voters and various marginalized groups, but in 2024 both parties seem particularly preoccupied with winning “the Swiftie vote.”
As surreal as it may seem, it makes sense. Taylor Swift is not only one of the biggest artists alive, she has one of the most intensely dedicated fan bases in music. Whether it’s buying multiple copies of the same album or tuning into Kansas City Chiefs games to cheer on Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, there’s nothing Swifties won’t do to support their queen.
Swift’s endorsements have been linked to spikes in voter registration going back to 2018. Why shouldn’t politicians fret over who she tells those fans to vote for?
Last month, the singer endorsed Harris in an Instagram post, calling her a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who will continue support for LGBTQ and women’s rights. While some Swifties fell in line and caused voter registration to surge once again, others were already way ahead of her.
Swifties For Kamala, an independent grassroots campaign, made national news earlier this year for raising over $150,000 for the Harris campaign through online broadcasts that presented politicians like Elizabeth Warren and artists such as Carole King. This group’s advocacy notably pre-dated Swift’s endorsement.
Texas House of Representatives candidate Averie Bishop rocks out to Taylor Swift at a Swifties for Harris karaoke party.
Meredith Tellery
Tellery’s work also predates Swift’s formal endorsement, but she didn’t need her idol’s permission to stand up for her beliefs. She describes Swiftie values as bigger than Swift herself.
“Her writing has let us feel like it's OK to have our feelings, to have our beliefs,” Tellery says. “That bleeds into our political views. We don't want women to be restricted in regards to their health care [...] How can we, as Swifties, not stand up for what we embody?”
According to Tellery, the issues that matter the most to Swifties include reproductive rights, gun control and the rights of LGBTQ individuals and people of color. While many of Swift’s fans were left-leaning before discovering her music, Tellery has witnessed the singer’s political statements change minds.
“I actually have a friend who wasn't going to vote,” she says. “She just said she was going to sit this one out. She’s a Swiftie, and when Taylor came out with her endorsement, she was like, ‘All right. Let me make some bracelets.’ She started getting involved.”
Friendship bracelets have become a major fan tradition during Swift's The Eras Tour. Tellery and her cohort are adorning them with messaging in favor of Harris and local politicians such as State House candidates Averie Bishop and Elizabeth Ginsberg. (Bishop and Ginsberg were present at the last event co-hosted by Funky East Dallas Democrats, further legitimizing Swifties as a voting block.)
Tellery is working on the next friendship bracelet party.
“We're going to do about two hours of bracelet making and listening to Taylor,” she says. “We may stream the Eras movie if we get the event space with the TV. [...] Hopefully, we'll be able to make some friendship bracelets for our local candidates, so that they can have them to pass out.”
Swifties may be rallying for Democratic candidates, but their values transcend party lines. According to Tellery, kindness and inclusivity are core tenets of the Swiftie belief system and inform how they vote.
“It's very much a fandom of love,” she says. “That's where our beliefs are coming from. It's love for people and wanting the best for people and wanting people to come together. That's what Taylor's music does for us.”
