In the weeks leading up to the midterm elections on Nov. 6, encouragement and emphasis on the importance of voting has become more prominent than ever. Democrats find this election critical, as they have the potential to shift control from the Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In order to take back control of the House, Democrats need a net gain of at least 23 seats, while a net gain of two seats are needed for Democrats to take control of the Senate. Both parties hold stake for the midterms, as it could mean Republicans continue to hold control in Congress or lose it to Democrats and thus change the current political climate and outcomes of passing bills and amendments.
Amidst all this tension, one celebrity has surprisingly spoken out in a statement of her political leanings: Taylor Swift.
Throughout her career, Swift has been criticized for her silence concerning politics. In her early country star days, Swift stated that she had voted during the 2008 election but refused to say who she voted for in fear of alienating her fan base, who were most likely conservative at the time. In the 2016 election, Swift posted a picture of herself in line to vote, but she again did not state who she voted for. She received criticism once again for refusing to state her political leanings during such a divisive time.
However, Swift must have felt strongly about her political convictions, because on Oct. 7, Swift posted a photo on Instagram with a 400-word caption, stating that due to events in the past two years and her own personal life, she feels differently about staying silent.
Swift went on to state that she will always vote for the candidate that protects human rights for all genders, people of color and LGBTQ people. She further slammed Tennessee Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, who Swift stated has a track record of voting against equal pay for women and voting against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that would attempt to protect women from domestic violence, stalking and date rape. Swift also stated that Blackburn believes gays do not have the right to marry and can be refused service from businesses.
Blackburn does not align with Swift’s “Tennessee values,” and therefore Swift stated that she will be voting for Jim Cooper for the House and Phil Bredesen for the Senate. She then encouraged her fans to register to vote, even if they do not fully agree with a party or candidate.
Why Swift decided to speak out in 2018 remains a mystery. Her countersuit for one dollar for sexual assault and battery in Colorado last year and recent tension surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination may have had an effect. Whatever her reason, her statement inspired 65,000 people to register to vote 24 hours after her post. President Trump even responded by stating he likes Swift’s music “25 percent less now.”
However, Swift seems unbothered by Trump’s statements, as she continues to encourage fans to vote, vote, vote and shake off the hate.
