Taylor Swift Breaks Silence On Politics, Slams GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn & Endorses Opponent Phil Bredesen

Taylor Swift has been notoriously apolitical in recent years, but on Sunday, she finally spoke up about a Senate candidate who worries her.

The 28-year-old pop singer took to Instagram to address the upcoming midterm elections — which will be held on Nov. 6 — and revealed she is supporting Democratic former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in the state’s Senate race because his opponent, Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn, has a record on many issues that Swift says “appalls and terrifies” her. Blackburn and Bredesen are vying to fill retiring GOP Sen. Bob Corker‘s seat.

Swift added she will also back Democratic candidate Jim Cooper in a Tennessee congressional race.

“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn,” Swift wrote. “I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.”

The pop star, who is currently on her Reputation World Tour, went on to describe Blackburn’s highly-conservative past voting record on issues affecting women and LGBT people.

“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.”

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Swift added: “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.”

 

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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

Swift finished her post by urging fans to vote and register to vote if they hadn’t yet done so already.

“October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN,” she wrote. “Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy voting!”

Swift was criticized by some people for remaining silent on sociopolitical issues during the 2016 election. Earlier this year, she voiced her support for the gun control movement that led to several March For Our Lives rallies around the country.

The singer’s post drew all sorts of reactions from celebrities, politicians and other users on social media.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — one of the Republican candidates for president in 2016 — said Swift “has every right to be political, but it won’t impact election unless we allow 13 yr old girls to vote.” Huckabee added he supports Blackburn.