Voter Support for Swift’s Efforts Declines
More than half of voters in a recent survey expressed support for Taylor Swift’s efforts to encourage voter participation in this year’s elections. However, that number has dropped by 15 points since February, coinciding with a conspiracy theory alleging a rigged Super Bowl. The newly released Monmouth University poll found that 53 percent of voters approve of Swift’s efforts to get her fans to the polls, while 35 percent disapprove, and 12 percent remain uncertain.
The Super Bowl Conspiracy Theory and Swift’s Endorsement
Following last week’s debate between Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Swift endorsed Harris. Swift is currently dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and attended the Super Bowl game against the San Francisco 49ers. A conspiracy theory suggested that the game was rigged to ensure maximum exposure for a Swift endorsement of President Biden, though no evidence supported such a claim. At the time, there was no endorsement from Swift.
Significant Drop in Support After the Conspiracy Theory
Monmouth noted that Swift’s get-out-the-vote efforts had significantly higher support seven months ago, prior to the debunked conspiracy theory. Back in February, 68 percent of voters supported Swift’s efforts. Since then, her support has remained strong among Democrats but has dropped sharply among Republicans—from 41 percent to 20 percent—and among independents, from 73 percent to 52 percent.
Republican Resistance and Swift’s Endorsement of Harris
“Republicans were wary of Swift all along. What we don’t know is whether this will have any effect on the part of her fan base who already leans right,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. This decline comes after Swift endorsed Vice President Harris, posting on Instagram to her 283 million followers, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.”
Voter Response to Swift’s Political Engagement
Despite Swift’s endorsement, an ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 81 percent of respondents said her support for Harris would not influence their vote. Only 6 percent were more likely to vote for Harris following Swift’s endorsement, while 13 percent were less likely to support the Democratic ticket.
Favorable Views of Taylor Swift Post-Harris Endorsement
A new poll from The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Siena College found that less than half of likely voters in the 2024 presidential election hold a favorable view of Taylor Swift following her endorsement of Harris. The poll, conducted after Swift’s endorsement on September 10, revealed that 44 percent of voters viewed Swift favorably, while 34 percent did not. Another 22 percent either had no opinion or were unsure, with most of those being older male voters.
Partisan Divide on Swift’s Popularity
Among Democrats, 70 percent view Swift favorably, compared to just 23 percent of Republicans. Many Republicans, including Trump himself, have expressed disdain for the pop star, with Trump stating on Truth Social, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” The survey highlighted a sharp partisan divide, with a majority of Republicans holding an unfavorable opinion of Swift.
Swift’s Favorability in Presidential Polls
Interestingly, a New York Times presidential poll suggests that Swift could rival Trump and Harris if she entered the 2024 race. Swift’s favorability rating of 44 percent is close to Trump’s 47 percent and Harris’s 48 percent. However, Swift’s unfavorability rating sits at 34 percent, which is lower than Trump’s 51 percent and Harris’s 49 percent.
Swift’s Appeal Across Party Lines
Swift enjoys broad support among Democrats, with 70 percent favoring her, while only 23 percent of Republicans share the sentiment. Among independents, 41 percent view Swift favorably. Despite her strong support, there remains a group—largely men over the age of 65—who are either unfamiliar with Swift or indifferent to her influence.
Swift’s Political Endorsement and Its Impact
Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris followed the debate with Trump, and she stated on Instagram that she supports Harris because “she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” Her post resonated with many of her followers, but it also drew backlash, particularly from Trump, who expressed his disdain for Swift in a fiery post on Truth Social.
Swift’s Political Future?
Despite her widespread influence and fervent fanbase, Swift has never indicated any interest in pursuing a political career. Nonetheless, her strong political engagement has led some to imagine what her candidacy might look like, especially with lyrics from her song “The 1” resonating with some voters: “It would have been sweet if it could’ve been me.”
