Pop star Taylor Swift has amassed millions of fans over the course of her career, a platform that—in recent years—she's used to encourage her young fans to become politically engaged.
In 2018, Swift endorsed political candidates for the first time, throwing her support behind Democratic House and Senate candidates in her home state of Tennessee.
In 2019, she described then-President Donald Trump's administration as an "autocracy" and came out as pro-choice. Three days later, while accepting a Video Music Award for Video of the Year, she urged fans to sign a petition calling for the passage of the Equality Act to expand the recognition of LGBTQ rights nationwide.
In 2020, she decried Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn and skewered Trump for "stoking the fires of white supremacy" with his veiled calls for violence in the wake of nationwide protests against the murder of George Floyd by police.
Now, in the wake of a crucial gubernatorial race in Virginia, Swift's fans—known colloquially as "Swifties"—are mobilizing against GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin for providing assistance to media mogul Scooter Braun in the purchase of Swift's former record company, which allowed Braun to acquire the master recordings for some of Swift's most notable songs.
Braun refused to sell Swift's masters back to her, prompting her to lambast him for "controlling a woman who didn't want to be associated with them. In perpetuity." Earlier this year, Swift finally regained ownership over her music catalogue.
The dispute ignited Swifties across the nation in disdain for Braun.
Now, the Democratic candidate for Virginia Governor—Terry McAuliffe—is running ads highlighting the connection between Youngkin and Braun.
ICYMI: McAuliffe Exposes Virginia Opponent\u2019s Bad Blood With Taylor Swift https://bluevirginia.us/2021/10/terry-mcauliffe-releases-new-plan-to-address-barriers-facing-women-in-the-workforce#comment-5560277378\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/EtAV7DUfPc— Blue Virginia (@Blue Virginia) 1633458476
One Facebook ad of McAuliffe's reads:
"Did you know that Republican candidate for Governor, Glenn Youngkin, helped buy Taylor Swift's masters out from under her when he was co-CEO of Carlyle Group?"
For some, the ads are working.
As a Virginian, #WeStandWithTaylor against Scooter Braun\u2019s bestie and financier Glenn Youngkin. \n\nIt\u2019s #TeamTaylorForTerry @TerryMcAuliffe #VAGovhttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— Meaghan (@Meaghan) 1633466961
Yes another reason to support @TerryMcAuliffe #vagovhttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— \ud83d\udc7bJordan Pittman\ud83c\udf83 (@\ud83d\udc7bJordan Pittman\ud83c\udf83) 1633464491
Target audience = reachedhttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— megan (@megan) 1633463077
Yas! Get himhttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— Kevin Ford (@Kevin Ford) 1633461994
We\u2019re listening to Red and voting Bluehttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— Andrew Strauss (@Andrew Strauss) 1633461143
as a Virginia resident who is voting for Terry McAuliffe and is a massive Taylor Swift fan I am THRILLED about this campaign strategyhttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— erica d'angelo (@erica d'angelo) 1633473068
As a swiftie myself, this is a great strategy because now I am even more motivated than I already was to beat Glenn Youngkinhttps://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— Delegate Mike Mullin (@Delegate Mike Mullin) 1633458157
People found the strategy original, to say the least.
this is the kind of content i want to seehttps://twitter.com/jacobrubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— David Wolfe Bender (@David Wolfe Bender) 1633464923
Would pay to see Bad Blood played at a McAuliffe rallyhttps://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1445434993879109632\u00a0\u2026— Emmanuel \ud83c\udf83 (@Emmanuel \ud83c\udf83) 1633467280
The Virginia gubernatorial race is on November 2.
