Swifties for Kamala is having anything but a cruel summer when it comes to fundraising for the Harris-Walz campaign.
According to a graphic shared by the Taylor Swift fan-led organization’s X account Thursday (Aug. 29), Swifties for Kamala has raised a total of $144,000 for the Democratic ticket so far. Just two days prior, the group held a Zoom event, with 34,000 people attending the call — including Carole King and Sen. Sen. Elizabeth Warren — resulting in 41,000 voters checking their registration as a result of the group’s efforts.
“But we were making it count …,” the group wrote, referencing a lyric from the 14-time Grammy winner’s Folklore track “The 1.” “Thank you to everyone who made our kickoff such a success!”
“We’ve seen the good we can do as a fandom and what happens when we mobilize our community,” Swifties for Kamala cofounder and executive director Irene Kim told NBC News on Wednesday. “We personally know what our values are. We also know what Taylor’s values are. She’s made them very clear to us.”
According to NBC News, a large majority of the funds raised thus far — $122,000 — was collected during the Zoom event.
Swift herself is not affiliated with Swifties for Kamala, nor has she publicly endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz despite backing Joe Biden’s 2020 White House bid — but according to the movement’s leaders, that’s not a problem. “We’re not trying to make her do anything — we do not speak for Taylor,” 29-year-old Kim explained in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan. “Our movement is about the power of our community and how we can mobilize together.”
Though the “Anti-Hero” artist is not yet among them, dozens of musicians have thrown their support behind Harris since Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed her as the Democratic nominee instead. King has been vocal about her support for the VP from the beginning, and while serving as a guest speaker on the Swifties for Kamala call, she sang a surprise cover of “Shake It Off” and encouraged those in attendance to volunteer for Harris’ campaign.
“If any of you are thinking of volunteering to be door knockers or phone callers, but you’re a little nervous about what you might say, please believe me, you will be working with an organizer who will give you steps,” she told the virtual crowd, adding that she sees Swift as her “musical and songwriting granddaughter.”
Elsewhere in the call, Warren revealed that her two favorite Taylor Swift songs are “Karma” and “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” “What I love best about Swifties, you are resilient and you know how to take on bullies,” the politician added. “You come together hand-to-hand, friendship bracelets on your wrists and you overcome pretty much anything that life throws at you. The Kamala Harris campaign is standing up for what’s right in the face of bullies like Donald Trump.”
See Swifties for Kamala’s post below.