Why eyes are on Taylor Swift ahead of 2024: Swifties to the polls?

Taylor Swift is one of the most influential and popular artists of our time, with over 200 million followers on social media and countless awards and accolades. But could she also be a political force to reckon with in the upcoming 2024 presidential election?

Swift has been notoriously silent on political matters for most of her career, preferring to focus on her music and personal life. However, in recent years, she has become more vocal about her views on social issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights, women’s empowerment, racial justice and climate change. She has also endorsed candidates and causes that align with her values, such as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020, and the Equality Act in 2019.

Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, are a loyal and passionate group that spans across generations, genders, races and backgrounds. They are also highly engaged and mobilized online, creating trends, hashtags and campaigns to support their idol. Some analysts believe that Swift’s influence could translate into political power, especially among young voters who are often disillusioned or apathetic about the electoral process.

According to a poll conducted by YouGov in 2019, 34% of Americans aged 18 to 29 said they would be more likely to vote if Taylor Swift asked them to, compared to 25% of the general population. Moreover, 28% of young Americans said they would trust Swift’s opinion on political issues, compared to 17% of the general population.

Swift has not expressed any intention of running for office herself, nor has she endorsed any potential candidates for 2024. However, some fans and observers have speculated that she might use her platform to encourage voter registration and turnout, or to advocate for specific policies or reforms. Some have even suggested that she could be a viable vice-presidential pick for a Democratic nominee, given her popularity and appeal.

Whether Swift will play a significant role in the 2024 election remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: she has the power to shape public opinion and inspire action among millions of Americans. As she sings in her song “Only The Young”, “They aren’t gonna help us / Too busy helping themselves / They aren’t gonna change this / We gotta do it ourselves / They think that it’s over / But it’s just begun / Only one thing can save us / Only the young”.