How much will Taylor Swift impact the 2024 election?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
What percent of all adults say they will “definitely” vote in the November 2024 election?
According to the Edison Research National Election Pool exit poll, the national youth vote choice for the most recent election was 63% for Democrats, 35% for Republicans. What percent of young adults (age 18-34) say they will “definitely” vote in the November 2024 election?
What percent of all Taylor Swift fans say they will “definitely” vote in the November 2024 election?
Describe the difference in the likelihood of voting for the groups in the visual above?
What political conclusion would you draw from the visual above?
It’s unlikely Swift’s opinion will sway voters torn between Trump or Harris – but her influence could bolster turnout. And if the rematch between the two politicians turns out to be close, the Swift electorate may make the difference. Based on the numbers above, how much do you think a Taylor Swift endorsement could swing the election?
Swift first waded into politics in 2018, when she broke her career-long silence on politics to urge fans to vote for Democrats in a Tennessee election. Although one of Swift’s preferred candidates lost to the Republican Marsha Blackburn, Swift endorsed Biden in 2020. She has also continued to tell fans to vote in subsequent elections, and voter registration has soared by the tens of thousands after each of her get-out-the-vote Instagram posts. Her fanbase is staggeringly large, with 53% of Americans saying they are fans and 16% identifying as “avid fans”, according to a March 2023 Morning Consult poll. (That poll was conducted before the launch of Swift’s world-conquering Eras Tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour of all time and reportedly made Swift a billionaire.). However, Swift’s fanbase is not evenly distributed across the US political spectrum: 55% of her self-avowed avid fans identify as Democrats, while 23% are Republicans and 23% are independents. As a general rule, do you think celebrities and athletes should stay our of politics?
Right after the September 10 Presidential debate, Taylor Swift went on Instagram and endorsed Kamala Harris for president. You can see the endorsement below. Within 11 hours of her endorsement, over 306,422 people had clicked on Taylor Swift’s URL and gone to register to vote at http://vote.gov. Some people say, “Basketball players should not be involved in politics and should shut up and dribble”. Do you think that Taylor should “shut up and sing”?
U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said that Taylor Swift will “probably pay a price” for endorsing his opponent, Kamala Harris, after their debate the night before. In Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris she wrote (see below), “Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” Swift wrote. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.” Do you think it was a good idea for Donald Trump to have posted a fake picture of Swift endorsing him?
Read or listen to Everyone wants Taylor Swift's vote. But celebrity endorsements are complicated. How much do you think celebrity endorsements actually matter?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Go to http://vote.gov. and register to vote. It will take less than 2 minutes.
Tweet Taylor Swift @taylorswift13 and let her know if you think she should have made her a political endorsement.
Get Creative
If Taylor Swift fans were a type of weather (rain, sun, hurricane, tornado, drought, typhoon, drizzle, atmospheric river, landslide) what type of weather would they be?
Learn More*
Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.
Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.
I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.
I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.
With love and hope,
Taylor Swift
Childless Cat Lady
