When Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut album in 2006 at 16 years old, she wowed fans and critics with her honest, diaristic lyrics. Swift wrote about her crushes, heartbreaks, and high school dramas, sometimes using real names; very few details were left to the imagination. But for many years, the country darling-turned-pop star kept one thing private: her political leanings.
Early in her career, Swift was both criticized and praised for staying out of politics. In 2012, “Late Show” host David Letterman gave Swift a proud fist bump after she explained her reluctant mindset: “I feel like, at 22, it’s my right to vote, but it’s not my right to tell other people what to do,” Swift said.
Swift finally broke her silence in 2018, shortly after she wrapped the US leg of the Reputation Stadium Tour.
“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 on Instagram, endorsing Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee.
In the years since, Swift’s political statements have been sparing, yet powerful. She’s had a demonstrable impact on voter registration in the past. In fact, even before Swift’s endorsement arrived, a large chunk of Swifties already rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris.
Keep reading for a complete timeline of Swift’s political journey so far.
Susie Heller contributed to a previous version of this post.
