Taylor Swift announced her endorsement of Kamala Harris on Tuesday night, minutes after the Democratic presidential nominee wrapped up her first debate against Republican rival Donald Trump.
The move aligns Harris with a singular force in the world of music, offering to bolster her support among younger and female voters as well as LGBTQ people. Aware of her potential to mobilize voters, Democrats had for months speculated about Swift offering her support for their ticket.
Calling herself a “Childless Cat Lady,” a term used by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, to disparage women without children, Swift announced her support in an Instagram post featuring a photo of her posing with a cat in her arms.
Swift said she is voting for Harris “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,” she added.
She also praised Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, saying she was “heartened and impressed” by a candidate “who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
Harris’ team moved quickly to capitalize on Swift’s endorsement. Quentin Fulks, her deputy campaign manager, said the endorsement “means a lot to us.”
“It’s Taylor Swift. We respect her endorsement, and she was obviously watching and paying attention tonight,” Fulks said.
