Taylor Swift finally breaks political silence

Taylor Swift doesn’t usually talk about politics, but that changed Sunday night.

The singer took to Instagram to endorse a Democratic Senate candidate, saying “several events” in her life and “in the world” over the past two years had caused her to feel “very differently” about voicing her political opinions.

Swift plans to vote for Tennessee hopeful Phil Bredesen, who is running against Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn.

“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 in an IG caption.

“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG,” she said. “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.”

Swift said Blackburn’s voting record in Congress “appalls and terrifies” her — and her beliefs are not representative of her “Tennessee values.”

“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,” Swift said. “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.”

Swift called on her followers to “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,” she said. “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.”