Stacey Abrams Said Selena Gomez ‘Embodied the Most Powerful Voter’ In the Last Election
If you have been following politics in recent years, then you’re probably aware of Stacey Abrams. Abrams seems like someone who would be miles away from Selena Gomez. After all, one is a politician and voter rights activist, and the other is a celebrity pop star. But during the 2020 election, the two formed a surprising but powerful relationship that helped spur political change in the state of Georgia. Despite Gomez’s lack of experience in politics, Abrams was reportedly incredibly impressed with Gomez’s work and what Gomez represented in the political sphere. So how was Gomez involved in the 2020 election? And what were Abrams’ thoughts on the involvement of this celebrity?
Who is Stacey Abrams?
Stacey Abrams has been a politician since 2007, but she really came to national attention in 2018, when she ran for governor of Georgia. She was the first Black woman to run under a major party (Democratic) in a gubernatorial election, though she lost to Republican Brian Kemp, who as Secretary of State had canceled over one million voter registrations. This election brought attention to voter suppression in Georgia, specifically targeting minority voters.
Therefore, after this election, Abrams dedicated herself to minority voter registration. Georgia has historically been a red state, meaning that it typically elects Republican politicians. However, in the 2020 election, Georgia historically elected Joe Biden, and subsequently two Democratic senators. It’s clear that Abrams’ impact on the American political landscape is significant.
How did Selena Gomez get involved?
Politics probably aren’t the first thing you think of when you think of Selena Gomez, right? Until recently, she would probably say the same. Gomez has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and open about her personal struggles, but that isn’t the same as involvement in electoral politics. In fact, according to Vogue, Gomez had not even voted until 2020. However, the late 2000s were a turning point for her. In 2019, she spoke out against abortion restrictions, and in 2020, she was involved in Get Out the Vote campaigning. This included an interview with Stacey Abrams, which was where the two became acquainted.
What does Stacey Abrams think of Selena Gomez?
Though Gomez was new to politics, Abrams engaged deeply with her. When Abrams described her experiences with Gomez, she was quoted as saying:
My first engagement with Selena was revelatory: She expressed an honest disengagement with traditional politics while also showing a hunger for solving real, painful problems. In that, she embodied the most powerful voter—one who comes to participation because she knows better is both possible and her right.
Gomez is like many American voters. The 2020 election saw voter turnout that was historically high; Gomez would have been among many who participated for the first time in this election. Many Americans have been largely disengaged, or even jaded about electoral politics. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t aware of problems in their communities and broader society — just that people are at a loss as to how to handle these problems.
Therefore, Gomez’s openness about her prior disengagement and disinterest is important. Her and Abrams’ collaboration likely inspired many Americans to learn more about the electoral process, register, and vote in the 2020 election. And hopefully, this momentum will continue, and there will be more civic participation in the US for years to come.
