Can Fandoms Save Democracy? An Interview With the Organizers Behind Swifties for Kamala
September 3, 2024
Vogue – Emma Specter
If you’ve ever dared to say anything less than kind about Taylor Swift online, you’ve probably already come face-to-face with the brute force of her fandom. Swifties, as they’re known, are as famous for their strategic thinking (see: the downfall of Ticketmaster) as for their overwhelming passion for the object of their pop affections. So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that a dedicated group of them—known as Swifties for Kamala—are turning their abundant energy to helping elect Kamala Harris as president this November. While the group takes pains to note it isn’t formally associated with Swift, their power is no less formidable: Swifties for Kamala has raised almost $150K in campaign contributions and recently hosted the likes of Carole King and senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey on its first fundraising call.
Vogue recently spoke to two card-carrying members of the Swifties for Kamala movement—first-time campaign volunteer Emerald Medrano and swing-state voter Carly Long—about the political motivation behind their fight, the overlap between Taylor Swift standom and Harris-Walz 2024 campaign values, and the importance of blocking a second Trump presidency.
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