Taylor Swift Fuels Campaign Momentum with Bold 'Kamala Era'Endorsement
T aylor Swift has entered her "Kamala Era." The words of the global pop icon blazed on giant digital billboards in New York's Times Square and along the Las Vegas Strip this past Friday, part of a high-energy marketing push by the Democratic National Committee. It came within hours after Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz.
The striking ads, featuring such phrases as "We're In Our Kamala Era!" and "A New Way Forward… Ready for It?"-a reference to Swift's Reputation album-were placed shortly after Swift publicly threw her support behind Harris. The endorsement came in the wake of a Tuesday night presidential debate pitting Harris against former President Donald Trump. Swift's surprise political tweet lit up social media and sent the Harris campaign website into a frenzy, where $20 Harris-Walz friendship bracelets sold out overnight and have since been restocked for preorder, with proceeds going to benefit the Harris Victory Fund.
Swift's endorsement immediately paid dividends, with 337,826 visitors reaching Vote.gov to verify their voter registration status overnight. Hangers on and political observers alike were gobsmacked Tuesday evening when the artist-who has playfully referred to herself as a "Childless Cat Lady" in reference to Trump's running mate J.D. Vance-took to sharing her musings so quickly after the debate.
For the grassroots organization "Swifties for Kamala," Swift's very public endorsement couldn't have been better timed. "We always knew Taylor would endorse when the time was right," the group-3,500 volunteers strong-now said. "Her values align with ours, and her voice will give this campaign an incredible boost." Swift's involvement spurred a spike of 960% in voter registration drives through the group's Fan Out program, as well as a wave of donations in the first 24 hours, the group said.
Swift's public support is the latest from the likes of artists such as Beyoncé, who famously allowed Kamala Harris to use her song "Freedom" from Lemonade during Harris' previous campaign. The swift turn of events ensured the billboards went live over the weekend, just two months ahead of Election Day.
With over 283 million followers on Instagram, Swift commands attention. The DNC placed the ads in two of the most popular tourist destinations in the country to make sure they are seen everywhere. "As we underscore the sharp contrast between Harris's New Way Forward and Trump's Project 2025-which promises to destroy reproductive rights and working families-we're reminding voters that now is the time to act. Visit IWillVote.com and make your voice heard," said DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin.
Swift urged her followers to register to vote and, more importantly, to do their research and make informed decisions. "I'm voting for Kamala Harris because she advocates for the things that are deeply important to me. She's a steady leader, and I believe in her vision for our future. And when I see Kamala choosing Tim Walz as her running mate-a man who has shown his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, IVF access and women's rights-I know this is a ticket that will fight for us," Swift said in the post.
Her post was a response to a deepfake viral video that showed her endorsing Donald Trump. So, she had to clear the air and throw her weight behind Harris. As expected, an unperturbed Trump hit back at the singer in an interview on Fox & Friends, saying, "I was never a fan of Taylor Swift. She always sides with Democrats and I'm sure she'll pay for it in the marketplace."
This is just one of the many efforts by the Harris campaign in an attempt to reach out to younger voters. In April, the campaign embraced a viral "brat summer" trend after artist Charli XCX tweeted "kamala IS brat." Harris's official campaign page updated its banner to "kamala hq," mirroring the playful but serious branding.
Among the public supporters of Harris, Charli XCX said: "To stand on the right side of women's rights and democracy means everything to me. I'm proud to support Kamala's mission to protect our future."
