Democrats have four long years ahead of them.
Kamala Harris’ loss in the 2024 presidential election finds the party on the back burner with theories, finger-pointing and hopeful ideas about how to reignite the fire in voters’ bellies.
Part of that effort begins with the Democratic National Committee, which oversees efforts to elect Democrats to offices at the federal, state and local levels. In other words, the Democratic National Committee is amplifying the message of the Democratic Party as a whole.
After the resignation of Democratic Party Chairman Jimmy Harrison, Democrats are seeking… Find a new leader Who excels in areas where the party failed. Key area that needs improvement: Engaging those who are not interested or already Exhausted voters.
Tuesday night, the DNC presidential candidates He met with a choir team From progressive online creators, for a The first forum of its kind In an attempt to do just that, and according to statistics, they succeeded. A real-time poll during the event showed that 85% of people who tuned in live were watching the DNC forum for the first time
Among the candidates competing for the presidency are: Wisconsin Democratic Chairman Ben Wikler; Minnesota Party Chairman Ken Martin; former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley; 2022 Arkansas Congressional Candidate Quintessa Hathaway; self-help guru Marianne Williamson; New York State Senator James Skoufis; And attorney Jason Paul.
While most of these candidates may be unfamiliar to most Americans, the online content creators who moderated the forum gave their millions of followers the opportunity to get to know them.
As the chart above shows, a Civic Democratic poll found that 64% of respondents feel “scared, depressed, or angry” about “the way things are in the United States today.” Facing a growing number of exhausted and depleted voters after the last election cycle, the Democratic Party is looking to innovators as a way to inform, educate and re-engage the party’s base.
Creator and political commentator Zach Kirk, known as Zaktivist On social media, he told Daily Kos that he was shocked by how much misinformation so many people were spreading online.
“I was confused and shocked by the lack of understanding [people have] “About how government works,” he told us.
And as conservative Online podcast creators and podcasters Having rallied and angered the right over the past four years, left-leaning creators like Kirk realize more than ever the importance of educating and motivating their online community.
This is where its content comes into play. Kirk — whose full-time job doesn’t involve politics and content creation — spends his free time thinking about how and where to better connect with his community. As someone who puts “the well-being of the people” before politics, Kirk’s style of presenting political news and commentary offers something that traditional media outlets like MSNBC typically don’t: a solution.
Instead of reporting on the doom and gloom of MAGA victories, Kirk intends to flip the narrative.
“[I will] “I continue to provide information to my network, to my communities, that will give them ways to adapt and survive,” he said, adding that he plans to “raise the bar on stories that have been missed” in the sea of Trump news. For those seeking comfort and connection when scrolling through their phones, stories that don’t scream negative breaking news may serve as a way back into political engagement.
Another benefit of these creator-led political discussions for the Democratic Party is the ability to highlight communities in America that may not always get airtime in mainstream media.
“Raise your hand if you know who the 92% are,” creator Elizabeth Booker Houston asked the Democratic National Committee chair candidates on Tuesday night.
The lawyer, professor, comedian, and content creator was referring to Percentage of black women Who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Notably, only one candidate raised his hand when asked the question.
By telling a nominating panel that “black women are exhausting” and mocking that Baltimore is “too black and too scary for Republicans,” Booker Houston is just one example of a left-leaning creative who authentically appeals to and connects with a Democratic base. Voters are sometimes seen as forgotten.
But as the countdown to Donald Trump’s second inauguration approaches, Democrats — and the Democratic Party’s presidential candidates — unanimously agree on one thing: The Democratic Party’s approach is no longer working, and it’s time to embrace new, left-friendly media sources.
If you ask Kirk, Democrats have their work cut out for them.
He added: “We are at point zero.” No one has emerged as a decisive voice for the Democratic Party or to resist what Trump will do. Nobody gives a counter.
The vote for the new Democratic National Committee chairman is scheduled for February 1, and while the front-runner has yet to emerge, one thing is certain — Democrats cannot afford to ignore the power of influencers.