Quick Hit:

Taylor Swift's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz might not be the boost Democrats hoped for. A new poll shows more voters are likely to vote against Harris following Swift's endorsement than those who are swayed in her favor.

Key Details:

• A YouGov poll released Saturday found that 20% of voters are less likely to support Harris after Swift’s endorsement, while only 8% said they are more likely to vote for her.

• The majority, 66%, said Swift’s endorsement would not affect their voting decision.

• While Swift's endorsement led to a spike in voter registration traffic, a sizable portion of respondents believe celebrities like Swift should avoid political endorsements.

Diving Deeper:

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, appears to have had a mixed reaction among voters. According to a YouGov poll conducted after the debate on September 10th, Swift's vocal support may be turning more people away from the Democratic ticket than it is attracting.

The poll found that only 8% of voters said Swift’s endorsement made them more likely to support Harris. In contrast, 20% said they were now less likely to vote for the vice president, showing that Swift's political engagement may be more polarizing than influential. An overwhelming 66% of respondents stated that Swift’s endorsement had no effect on their voting decision for the 2024 election​.

The poll also revealed that voters are divided on whether Swift, or any celebrity, should be involved in politics. Forty-one percent of respondents said Swift should stay out of political discussions, while 38% believed she should be free to endorse political candidates publicly​. This division reflects the broader tension between entertainment figures stepping into the political arena and the potential for backlash among a polarized electorate.

Moreover, the poll highlighted that while Swift's influence may appeal to younger and more progressive voters, it is less likely to sway undecided or conservative voters. The surge in voter registration, reported after Swift shared a custom link to vote.gov, underscores her potential to mobilize younger demographics, but it doesn't necessarily translate into votes for the Harris-Walz ticket.