The Swifties, Taylor Swift’s fervent fan community, distinguish themselves as one of the most prominent fandoms worldwide, notably within the United States. Renowned for their steadfast loyalty, they passionately back the artist’s endeavors and fiercely defend her against criticism, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “stunning.” A typical Swiftie often incorporates Swift’s music into their social media handles and prominently features her image in their profile pictures. Their dedication runs so deep that instances have arisen where they express vehement opposition or unrest if Swift takes actions they disapprove of or fail to support.
Given her immense influence and the Swifties’ loyalty, it’s not so far-fetched to suggest that they could be game-changers in this year’s elections. Despite the country’s conservative tilt, Gen Z, the generation of young voters, tends to lean towards the Democratic Party. A study by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University found that in the midterm elections in 2020, voters aged 18-29 voted more heavily for Democrats than Republicans.
That’s why President Biden’s team has been keen on courting Swift to help him win over the youth vote this year. In fact, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has jokingly described getting Swift’s endorsement as “the endorsement of their wildest dreams.”
However, Swift’s alleged support of Biden is unlikely to have much of an impact on voters who are either not fans or whose political beliefs run in the opposite direction. But, as Newsweek reports, three in ten Americans under 35 say they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by a celebrity like Swift.
This is especially true of younger voters. Whether through her Instagram posts or campaign appearances, Swift will encourage her millions of followers to cast their votes this year. This aligns with what other celebrities have done, such as Kanye West and John Mayer, urging their fans to vote.
Moreover, Swift will likely inspire those voters already planning to head to the polls. But, if even a fraction of Swift’s millions of supporters turn out to vote because of her efforts, they could make a difference in critical states such as Arizona and Wisconsin.
And, if that’s not enough to convince Republicans to stay away from attacking Swift and risk enraging her legions of loyal fans, then nothing will. The last time musicians commanded such a massive following was the Beatles, and they only existed for about a decade. As it stands, Swift has been a public figure for two decades. It’s not unreasonable to assume that her fans have formed emotional ties to her long before they were old enough to vote.