Kamala Harris Campaign Launches Taylor Swift Snapchat Filter to Reach Young Voters
Written by Hannah Dailey on October 18, 2024
Kamala Harris‘ campaign is making sure there are no blank spaces in its efforts to win over young voters, especially where Taylor Swift fans are concerned.
On the day of the pop star’s first Eras Tour show back in the United States Friday (Oct. 18), the Democratic National Committee unveiled a themed Snapchat filter available only to Swifties in battleground states that allows users to pose under a digital banner reading, “In My Voting Era.”
The filter will also let voters choose from a number of topics Harris supports to complete the phrase, “Be fearless for …” in reference to the 14-time Grammy winner’s hit 2008 album Fearless. To fill in the blank, users can select from a menu containing “Democracy,” “Reproductive rights,” “Climate action” and more.
“This election will determine the future for young voters, from student loan debt relief and economic opportunity to whether they have fewer rights than their grandmothers did,” reads a statement from Rosemary Boeglin, DNC communications director, on the new Swiftie initiative. “Democrats are reaching out to young voters where they are, from concert venues to social media platforms, to make sure they have the resources they need to cast their ballot.”
The Snapchat filter is just one of several ways Harris’ campaign has capitalized on Swift’s emphatic endorsement of the Democratic ticket in September. The VP has also been selling friendship bracelets in the style of Swifties’ favorite Eras Tour accessory on her online store, and her running mate, Tim Walz, shouted out the “Anti-Hero” musician during the vice presidential debate in early October.
“I’m as surprised as anybody of this coalition that Kamala Harris has built, from Bernie Sanders to Dick Cheney to Taylor Swift,” the Minnesota governor said at the time. “They believe in a positive future of this country, and one where our politics can be better than it is.”
In addition to the Snapchat filter, the DNC is also rolling out Swift-themed billboards this week reading, “A new way forward … ready for it?” and “We’re in our Kamala era!” — starting with a mobile ad on a boat that will be stationed near Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where the “Karma” musician is set to play three Eras Tour shows Oct. 18-20. Florida is right next door to Georgia, one of seven key swing states in the 2024 presidential election. The other battleground states are Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Nevada.
The billboards also direct viewers to visit IWillVote.com to ensure they’re registered to vote by Oct. 26. Election Day is Nov. 5.
In her September endorsement of Harris, Swift emphasized the importance of voting. “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make,” she wrote at the time. “I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early.”
