Some members of Taylor Swift’s massive fan base are organizing and campaigning for the presidential candidates of their choice — even without the pop star’s public support.
Swifties for Kamala, which has no official ties to Swift or Vice President Kamala Harris, had raised $142,000 for Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, as of Wednesday afternoon, said Irene Kim, the organization’s co-founder and executive director. .
Most of that — $122,000 — was raised during the group’s Zoom event on Tuesday. An estimated 34,000 people joined the roughly two-hour call, which featured performances by singer-songwriter Carole King and Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Ed Markey of Massachusetts; and Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, and Becca Balint, D-Vermont.
Swift Endorsed Joe Biden and Harris in 2020 but this year he did not throw his support behind a candidate. Many Swifties who have mobilized online over the past month have felt emboldened to rally behind Harris without even Swift’s endorsement.
“We’ve seen the good we can do as a fandom and what happens when we mobilize our community, so we don’t have to wait,” Kim, 29, told NBC News. “Personally, we know what our values are. We also know what Taylor’s values are. He explained them to us very clearly.”
The group has over 72,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) and over 48,000 followers on Instagram.
A spokesperson for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the Harris campaign said the group was not affiliated with the campaign and declined to comment.
Throughout her career, Swift avoided making political statements until the 2020 documentary Miss Americana. Swiftin on film the battle behind the scenes publicly denouncing Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., then a member of the House, as “Trump in a wig.” The clip was shot on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections Swift supported Blackburn’s Senate opponentDemocrat Phil Bredesen and then Rep. Jim Cooper’s re-election campaign.
Although Blackburn won, Swift’s Instagram post encouraging people to register to vote resulted in an increase in voter registration, especially among young people. Vote.org reported on this at that time.
During Tuesday’s call, Kim greeted attendees, telling them, “This is what you’ve been waiting for,” in a nod to Swift’s “Welcome to New York.” The organization’s other co-founder, 22-year-old Zumrud Medrano, showed off her Swifties for Kamala merchandise: a T-shirt with a friendship bracelet that read, “In my voting age.”
Speakers on the call, many of whom referenced Swift’s words, praised the participants for joining them.
“My favorite thing about Swifties is you’re resilient and you know how to deal with bullying and you know how to be your most authentic, most joyful self,” Warren said. “You’ve come together, held hands, have friendship bracelets on your wrists, and handled everything life has thrown at you. This is what Kamala Harris’s campaign is all about.”
Many have brought up the phrase “single cat ladies” in reference to the Republican vice presidential nominee. JD Vance’s statement about “childless cat ladies”. to rule the country.
Swift is a self-proclaimed “cat lady” and owns several cats. Vance he said on Sunday NBC News“Meet the Press” His comment, which has resurfaced since 2021, is “not in the top 10” on his list of regrets and that “a lot of people took it the wrong way.”
Gillibrand said on the call, “I think it’s important that we as single cat ladies, as independent women, as women who know every lyric Taylor Swift wrote, be a part of this campaign and this election.”
King, who Swift is inducting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, also performed a short a cappella rendition of the chorus of “Shake it Off” from Swift’s album “1989.” He encouraged Swifties to volunteer to further support Harris’ campaign.
“I have been a political activist for years. I’ve volunteered, I’ve even been a door-knocker as a celebrity,” said King, who describes himself as a friend of Swift’s. “I’m telling you all this because if any of you are considering volunteering to be a door-knocker or a phone-caller, but are a little worried about what you might say, please believe me: There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. .”
Kim said Swifties for Kamala was inspired by local group founder Jotaka Eaddy. Winning with Black WomenA fundraiser for Harris shortly after Biden endorsed him. Eddie’s group raised $1.5 million in three hours X said last month.
Other organizations – including “White Friends for Harris”, “Dead Heads for Harris”, “Cat Ladies for Kamala” and “Hackers for Harris“- Biden held similar fundraising events last month after announcing he would not seek re-election.