Halsey became the latest musician to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday (March 10), just hours after voters went to the polls in Michigan for a crucial primary that could be a pivot point in the tightly contested battle between the Democratic Socialist from Vermont and former Vice President Joe Biden.
“I am officially endorsing Bernie Sanders for president,” Halsey says in the nearly two-minute video which features footage of the “Nightmare” singer speaking at various events and award shows. “Bernie has been fighting for me since before I was alive… a queer woman in a multi-racial family who was raised poor in an American suburb. A woman who got into the college of her dreams and couldn’t afford to go. A person physically tormented by a reproductive health disorder that I couldn’t afford to treat.”
The singer’s endorsement came a day after rock icon Neil Young gave an equally vigorous thumbs up to Sanders, who appeared to be steamrolling his way to the nomination before Biden racked up some major wins on Super Tuesday. They join a long list of artists backing Bernie, including Sonic Youth‘s Kim Gordon, Neutral Milk Hotel‘s Jeff Mangum, Ariana Grande, Bela Fleck, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Jack White, Jason Mraz, Killer Mike, Miley Cyrus, The Strokes and Vampire Weekend, among many others.
Halsey, 25, says she’s behind the Medicare for All Senator because she knows what it’s like to repeatedly be denied access to medical, housing and financial assistance and abortion, all before she turned 21. She says she considers herself fortunate compared to the rest of working-class America, with financial privilege that protects her from the effects of marginalization that might have previously been fatal for her.
“So today, I fight for her too,” she says, with a hitch in her voice. “That girl, who wasn’t protected.”
Watch Halsey’s full endorsement below.
