Some of Taylor Swift’s fans are rejoicing after Vice President Kamala Harris selected Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate.
After the announcement on Tuesday, Swifties unearthed Walz’s tweets and statements about their musical idol.
In November 2022, shortly after Ticketmaster bungled the general sale for Swift’s Eras Tour, Walz shared an anguished-looking photo of his cat. “Afton after being online all day and not getting Taylor Swift tickets,” Walz wrote on X. (Swift famously loves cats and owns three.)
Ticketmaster’s underwhelming response sparked uproar among Swifties; since then, Walz has advocated for consumer rights and anti-monopoly regulations. This year he signed the so-called Taylor Swift bill, designed to provide more transparency and protection for people buying tickets online, into law in Minnesota.
Swifties were also delighted that Walz proclaimed two “Taylor Swift Days” in Minnesota last year, June 23 and 24, to celebrate the Eras Tour coming to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“As followers of music and Taylor Swift’s fans know all too well, Swift is one of the world’s most influential, top-earning artists in the music and entertainment industry,” Walz wrote in a document he shared on X, weaving in a reference to Swift’s fan-favorite song “All Too Well.”
The pun-filled document also included nods to the songs “Wildest Dreams,” “Mastermind,” “Lover,” and “The 1.”
The fan account @Swifties4Kamala, which aims to mobilize Swift’s passionate fan base and raise money for Harris’ campaign, shared an enthusiastic reaction to Walz’s announcement using a familiar strategy.
“A proclamation for ‘Taylor Swift Days’? That’s our man!” the post said, referring to lyrics from Swift’s No. 1 song “Willow.”
Many more of Swift’s fans were happy to endorse Walz on social media, dubbing the governor a “confirmed Swiftie” and “one of us.”
“SWIFTIE VP!! TICKETMASTER COUNT YOUR DAYS BABYYYYY!!!!!!!!” one fan wrote on X, collecting more than 43,000 likes.
In honor of Walz, some of Swift’s fans made friendship bracelets — a longtime Eras Tour tradition that was inspired by the lyrics in Swift’s song “You’re on Your Own, Kid.” (“So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it / You’ve got no reason to be afraid.”)
One fan’s bracelet says “Long live the Walz,” a nod to the lyric “Long live the walls we crashed through / How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you.”
Swift isn’t the only pop star who’s won Walz’s support. Last year, Walz declared July 20 “Beyoncé Day” in Minnesota to mark her arrival for the Renaissance World Tour, thrilling members of the Beyhive on social media. “He really gets it,” one fan wrote.
Beyoncé granted Harris permission to use her song “Freedom” during campaign events after giving the vice president tickets to the Renaissance World Tour.
Swift hasn’t endorsed Harris or publicly spoken about the 2024 presidential election. She endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and accused President Donald Trump of “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism.”
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