Taylor Swift announced Sunday her endorsement of two Democratic Tennessee candidates — Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and Congressional candidate Jim Cooper.
Acknowledging her past reluctance to “publicly voice [her] political opinions,” Swift wrote via Instagram that she now feels “very differently about that.”
“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,” Swift 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. 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.”
The singer then reasoned why she declined to support Bredesens opponent, “a woman named Marsha Blackburn.”
“Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” she wrote before listing several issues on which she disagreed with the GOP candidate. “These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.”