These Taylor Swift Followers Raised $144k For Kamala Harris

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On July 21, President Joe Biden introduced that he would not be operating for re-election in 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to complete the race. That exact same day, this tweet from 22-year-old Emerald Medrano activated an unlimited and highly effective but usually underestimated demographic: Taylor Swift followers.Simply over a month later, on August 27, Swifties for Kamala hosted a Zoom name that raised $144,000 for the Harris-Walz marketing campaign and bought 14,000 folks registered to vote. Greater than 34,000 folks watched the decision dwell to see followers like themselves, together with politicians like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand (plus the legendary Carole King), and to speak about why they hope America won’t ever, ever, ever get again along with former president and convicted felon Donald Trump.To learn the way they pulled it off and what’s coming subsequent, BuzzFeed interviewed three of the organizers behind Swifties for Kamala: Emerald Medrano, 22, cofounder and chairman; Irene Kim, 29, cofounder and government director; and April Glick Pulito, 36, political director.The group shared the deeply private purpose why they determined to prepare Taylor Swift followers to assist Kamala Harris’s marketing campaign and opened up in regards to the largest challenges they’ve confronted to date. They talked about why folks usually underestimate the ability of fandom — particularly in relation to ladies and women — and shared how they’re proving their critics fallacious.And above all, they need you to know that there is no good time or solution to get into politics, so why not begin with one thing so simple as a friendship bracelet? Here is what else they needed to say.BuzzFeed: How many individuals are engaged on Swifties for Kamala behind the scenes, and did you all meet on-line by the fandom?What impressed you to faucet into the Taylor Swift fandom to make a distinction within the 2024 election?What have been among the largest challenges in organizing the Swifties for Kamala Zoom name, and which elements got here extra simply?It appears to me like folks are inclined to severely underestimate what Swifties are able to. Why do you suppose that’s?Twitter: @Swifties4Kamala Swifties have rallied round vital causes and have supported each other for years – whether or not it’s to assist somebody in our group going by powerful instances, elevate cash when tragedy strikes, or carry consciousness to a problem, that is what we do. I believe there additionally tends to be this concept that we’re simply this entity of faceless followers ready for Taylor to inform us what to do, however we’re not. We’re your pals, household, coworkers, even a few of your bosses. We’re actual people who find themselves united by our love for Taylor Swift, care about lots of vital points, and know find out how to get issues achieved collectively. It’s unlucky that folks underestimate us, however we’re more than pleased to maintain stunning folks with how a lot we will get achieved. What would you say to different younger individuals who wish to get entangled in politics however aren’t positive the place to begin or who really feel like their voices will not matter?What are your plans as we get nearer to the election?Anything you wish to say?

On July 21, President Joe Biden introduced that he would not be operating for re-election in 2024 and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to complete the race. That exact same day, this tweet from 22-year-old Emerald Medrano activated an unlimited and highly effective but usually underestimated demographic: Taylor Swift followers.

I really feel like us U.S swifties ought to mass arrange and assist marketing campaign for Kamala Harris and unfold how horrendous venture 2025 can be to assist get folks’s butts all the way down to the polls in November 😭 like if we do not need democracy to finish we actually want to maneuver and push blue votes

— 🪩 eME!rald 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🍉 iso eras tour tickets (@hushmirrorball) July 21, 2024

Twitter: @hushmirrorball

Simply over a month later, on August 27, Swifties for Kamala hosted a Zoom name that raised $144,000 for the Harris-Walz marketing campaign and bought 14,000 folks registered to vote. Greater than 34,000 folks watched the decision dwell to see followers like themselves, together with politicians like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand (plus the legendary Carole King), and to speak about why they hope America won’t ever, ever, ever get again along with former president and convicted felon Donald Trump.

Twitter: @Swifties4Kamala

And so they did all this with none assist or endorsement from Taylor or her workforce, although they advised BuzzFeed that “she is welcome to indicate up at our get together anytime!”

To learn the way they pulled it off and what’s coming subsequent, BuzzFeed interviewed three of the organizers behind Swifties for Kamala: Emerald Medrano, 22, cofounder and chairman; Irene Kim, 29, cofounder and government director; and April Glick Pulito, 36, political director.

The group shared the deeply private purpose why they determined to prepare Taylor Swift followers to assist Kamala Harris’s marketing campaign and opened up in regards to the largest challenges they’ve confronted to date. They talked about why folks usually underestimate the ability of fandom — particularly in relation to ladies and women — and shared how they’re proving their critics fallacious.

Let’s chat about all issues 2024 Election

And above all, they need you to know that there is no good time or solution to get into politics, so why not begin with one thing so simple as a friendship bracelet? Here is what else they needed to say.

BuzzFeed: How many individuals are engaged on Swifties for Kamala behind the scenes, and did you all meet on-line by the fandom?

What impressed you to faucet into the Taylor Swift fandom to make a distinction within the 2024 election?

What have been among the largest challenges in organizing the Swifties for Kamala Zoom name, and which elements got here extra simply?

It appears to me like folks are inclined to severely underestimate what Swifties are able to. Why do you suppose that’s?

Twitter: @Swifties4Kamala

Swifties have rallied round vital causes and have supported each other for years – whether or not it’s to assist somebody in our group going by powerful instances, elevate cash when tragedy strikes, or carry consciousness to a problem, that is what we do.

I believe there additionally tends to be this concept that we’re simply this entity of faceless followers ready for Taylor to inform us what to do, however we’re not. We’re your pals, household, coworkers, even a few of your bosses. We’re actual people who find themselves united by our love for Taylor Swift, care about lots of vital points, and know find out how to get issues achieved collectively.

It’s unlucky that folks underestimate us, however we’re more than pleased to maintain stunning folks with how a lot we will get achieved.

What would you say to different younger individuals who wish to get entangled in politics however aren’t positive the place to begin or who really feel like their voices will not matter?

What are your plans as we get nearer to the election?

Anything you wish to say?

Twitter: @Swifties4Kamala

April Glick Pulito: I stress lots inside our Discord and on-line that we will’t get distracted between now and November fifth! We love speaking about our fandom, the astounding catalog of music we get to hearken to, the most recent Chiefs sport, positive, however once more, we now have 60 days (as of now) till the election.

We should always attempt to not get misplaced in discourse and as a substitute focus our energies the place they will make a distinction. Each single factor we do between now and November fifth DOES matter so let’s make it depend!

Make your vote depend! Be taught extra about find out how to register, vital deadlines, and your state’s mail-in voting choices right here. For extra on the 2024 election, take a look at protection on BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and NBC Information.