Influencers take over the DNC

The Democratic National Convention Committee announced last month that it has issued the same credentials as traditional news outlets to over 200 content creators from TikTok, YouTube and other platforms for the August convention in Chicago. The creators will be able to use dedicated workspaces at Chicago’s United Center and have access to party surrogates. They will also be able to attend related events in Chicago, such as third party panel discussions, and capture content there. The RNC also offered credentials to some content creators last month.

@DemConvention shared a clip on X featuring multiple different left-wing influencers/content creators planning on attending the convention announcing their attendance. Among those featured in the clip was Jeffrey Marsh, who is a “non-binary identifying man who encourages children to cut off their parents so that he can be their new ‘family,’” Washington editor of The Spectator Amber Duke wrote on X. The DNCC took the clip down just hours later, and did not respond to her request to comment. 

The clip featured many other kooky Democrat content creators: 

Leigh McGowan, host and creator of the viral award-winning digital media brand “PoliticsGirl,” which “works to save democracy through a no-nonsense, everywoman approach to understanding politics.”

Jeremey Jacobowitz, aka “Brunch Boys,” a food influencer — not sure what mukbangs he’ll be making at the DNC…

Johnny Palmadessa, a journalist and influencer who claimed “Donald Trump has dementia.”

Micro influencers Kenneth Waldon, aka @2rawtooreal, and @Qondi on X who boasts “KEEP CALM AND KAMALA” in her bio. 

Creators invited also included YouTuber Bryan Tyler Cohen, who has nearly 3 million subscribers, and Josh Helfgott, a TikTok creator with over 5 million followers who covers mostly LGBTQ issues. 

“Stay tuned to watch democracy in action,” the creators said in unison in the outro. 

And once the in-person credentials were filled, the DNCC started giving out “virtual” creator correspondent credentials. Artist, stone carver and “liberal af” Jamies Bower shared on X: “…I’m gonna be a REMOTE Virtual Creator Correspondent for the DNC Convention!!” So, essentially watching it on TV at home like everyone else?…

The effort is one of the many ways in which the Biden-cum-Harris campaign is trying to solidify their youth voter base through social media. Many Gen-Zers use Instagram and TikTok as their main source of news, specifically through influencers and content creators like the ones above. Digital content has also become an important part of the Harris campaign, with the meme-ification of the “coconut tree” story and the Kamala “brat summer” collab.

“People are living on their phones and on social media, and they have people who they trust. It’s those people who the DNC is credentialing,” said Stuart Perelmuter, the founder and chief executive of Good Influence, an influencer advocacy network that connects creators with various causes. 

“Our convention will make history, so we’re giving creators a front row seat to history,” said Matt Hill, senior director of communications for the DNCC.