A new poll from Daily Mail reveals that Taylor Swift’s image has taken a significant hit among Republicans following her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election.
The survey, conducted by J.L. Partners, highlights how the pop icon has become a polarizing figure, with 57% of Republicans now viewing the 34-year-old singer negatively, compared to 71% of Democrats who hold a favorable opinion of her. Among Independents, 50% have a somewhat positive perception of Swift, while 27% view her unfavorably.
This polling data comes as many voters attribute blame to Harris for issues like rising inflation, the border situation, and the Afghanistan withdrawal.
James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, remarked, “Taylor Swift has shifted from Miss Americana to The Archer amidst the political turmoil. She’s now perceived through a partisan lens, much like other divisive topics in American society.”
The poll was conducted from September 13 to 15, involving 1,054 likely voters, shortly after Swift made her endorsement public on Instagram right after the presidential debate on September 10. In her post, she declared, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” signing off as “Childless Cat Lady” in a jab at Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance.
While the endorsement has caused some division among voters, younger demographics still resonate with Swift’s message. Notably, 52% of individuals aged 18 to 29 indicated they are more inclined to vote for the Democratic nominee due to her endorsement.
Johnson noted, “While the immediate impact may seem limited, if Swift actively encourages young voters in October, it could prove significant in closely contested states. Harris certainly needs her support, as our data shows that while younger voters back Harris, they also show lower enthusiasm about voting in November. If that changes, Trump might face tougher competition.”
Additionally, the endorsement seems to have positively influenced Hispanic and Black voters towards supporting Harris. Conversely, a portion of Independent voters reported being less likely to support Harris due to Swift’s backing—27% felt less inclined while 24% felt more inclined.
Despite the mixed responses to Swift’s endorsement, other endorsements appear to carry more weight in the current race. Robert Kennedy Jr.’s endorsement of Trump seems to have a more substantial impact, affecting 22% of voters. Meanwhile, endorsements from former President Obama and First Lady Michelle have also proven influential, with 20% of voters considering those endorsements the most significant for Harris.
In comparison, only 4% of respondents believe Swift’s endorsement had the biggest impact, a figure on par with Oprah Winfrey’s backing of Harris.
Swift’s endorsement has certainly drawn considerable attention, including criticism from the GOP nominee. Following her announcement, Trump took to social media, exclaiming, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”