Taylor Swift makes most public political statement of her career, says she cannot support Marsha Blackburn

Lauren Tuck
·News Editor
·3 min read

Throughout her career, Taylor Swift has been reluctant to publicly voice her political opinions. But on Sunday night, a day after wrapping up the U.S. leg of her “Reputation” tour, she took to Instagram to share a lengthy post about the midterm elections in November.

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I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! 🗳😃🌈

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Oct 7, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT

The 28-year-old admitted that she’s changed her view because of several events in her life and the world over the past two years. “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,” she wrote. “I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

She continued that she cannot vote for “someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.” That’s why Swift, who is registered to vote in Tennessee, is endorsing Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Both are Democrats.

Notably, she’s directly opposing Marsha Blackburn, the current Republican representative for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. “As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift said. “She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values.”

She concluded her lengthy post by imploring young people to register to vote.

Reactions to Swift’s Instagram have been overwhelmingly positive.

Bredesen chimed in as well.

During the 2016 election, the “Bad Blood” singer remained quiet while most of her close celebrity friends — including Lena Dunham, Blake Lively, Emma Stone, and more — campaigned for Hillary Clinton. On election day, she simply posted a selfie with the message: “Today is the day. Go out and VOTE.”

In March, Swift made a rare comment on current events when she posted about March for Our Lives after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. She also made a donation to the campaign to end gun violence.

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No one should have to go to school in fear of gun violence. Or to a nightclub. Or to a concert. Or to a movie theater. Or to their place of worship. I’ve made a donation to show my support for the students, for the March For Our Lives campaign, for everyone affected by these tragedies, and to support gun reform. I’m so moved by the Parkland High School students, faculty, by all families and friends of victims who have spoken out, trying to prevent this from happening again.

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Mar 23, 2018 at 11:56am PDT

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