Swifties for Kamala Raise Over $100K in Fundraising Efforts

Taylor Swift has not yet voiced her support for any candidate in this election season; however, her devoted fans, known as Swifties, are already rallying to fundraise for the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Swifties for Kamala Coalition officially kicked off on Tuesday, impressively raising $142,000 at their inaugural event. This two-hour virtual rally was graced by notable performances from singer Carole King and speeches from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

The donations made during the event varied, with many contributions falling between $13 and $19.89. This choice of donation amounts served as a tribute to Swift’s favorite number and the title of her fifth studio album.

The rally began with an engaging address from Senator Warren, who was met with an outpouring of heart emojis and cheers from those participating in the livestream. In her speech, Warren emphasized the values of resilience and authenticity that define both the Swiftie community and the campaign for Kamala Harris. “You are resilient, and you know how to take on bullies, and you know how to be your most authentic, most joyful selves,” Warren remarked. “And that is what the Kamala Harris campaign is all about. It’s about standing up for what is right in the face of bullies, like Donald Trump.”

Carole King also took the stage during the rally, lovingly referring to Swift as her “musical and songwriting granddaughter.” The iconic singer performed her beloved track, “Shake It Off,” while also sharing her own experiences of political activism. “I’ve been a volunteer, I’ve been doorknocker, even as a famous person,” King stated, highlighting her commitment to political engagement.

Although the atmosphere of the rally felt like an informal gathering of fans, the group has been diligently working since President Joe Biden stepped back from the race. Emerald Medrano, the 22-year-old founder of the Swifties for Kamala Coalition, established the organization in June and has since grown its following to a quarter million on various social media platforms.

In a recent interview, Medrano drew parallels between Harris and Swift, stating, “Harris is a very intelligent and powerful woman; she’s a trailblazer. The way she has opened doors and also takes care of the people who come after her through that door reminds me in a lot of ways of Taylor and the way she cares about people in the music industry.” Medrano’s connection to Harris, along with a belief that the vice president genuinely cares about individual rights and identity, motivates him to support her campaign.

While Swift maintains no formal affiliation with the coalition at this time, rally participants, including Senator Warren, are hopeful that the singer will lend her public support to Harris soon. Back in 2020, Swift endorsed Biden for president shortly before the election, a decision that was met with mixed reactions from fans who criticized her for being apolitical up to that point.

The political landscape took an interesting turn recently when former President Trump shared a doctored social media image depicting Swift urging voters to support him in the upcoming election. The image featured the award-winning artist in a patriotic outfit, alongside the caption, “Taylor Swift Wants You To Vote For Donald Trump.” Trump’s response to the image was, “I accept!”

As of now, a spokesperson for Swift has not responded to requests for comment regarding the current fundraising efforts and the emerging coalition supporting Harris. The interactions between celebrity influence and political engagement continue to unfold in the lead-up to the election.

With passionate fans organizing and advocating for the Democratic nominee, Swifties for Kamala marks a significant intersection of pop culture and political activism as the election season heats up.

Source: USA Today