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On Friday morning, Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) will commence a four-hour live stream from a rooftop in Washington, D.C., with some of the biggest political influencers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The line-up includes popular streamers Clara Sorrenti (Keffals), Steven Bonnell (Destiny), and Ian Kochinski (Vaush), who will tackle topics such as climate change, affordable housing, and student debt relief. However, the significance of this event lies in its reflection of how Democrats and Republicans are vying to connect with potential voters online.
Representative Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley in Congress, emphasized that the new generation of Americans aren’t relying on traditional news outlets like MSNBC, CNN, or Fox. Instead, they are turning to streamers for news and inspiration. Khanna compares engaging with streamers to the equivalent of talk radio or cable for millennials and Gen Z.
While Republicans have previously embraced content creators, as seen with Donald Trump inviting several to his campaign events and the White House during his presidency, this approach has sparked controversy. Recently, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy advocated for a stronger presence on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, uploading videos that offer a behind-the-scenes look at his campaign and even dancing with controversial internet celebrity Jake Paul. However, former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, rebuked Ramaswamy’s efforts, calling them “infuriating” and labeling TikTok as “dangerous.”
Seventy percent of Twitch viewers, which is owned by Amazon, fall within the 18 to 34 age range, according to the company. Representative Khanna’s live stream is just one example of how Democrats are actively targeting young people. Last October, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) played the popular video game “Among Us” on Twitch alongside a group of streamers. These initiatives aim to strengthen the relationship between Democrats and the streaming community.
The Biden administration has also recognized the importance of partnering with content creators, briefing TikTok influencers on various topics such as Ukraine and coronavirus vaccines. However, it’s worth noting that the White House did not extend invitations to prominent Twitch and YouTube streamers.
During the VidCon Baltimore convention, Christian Tom, director of the White House’s Office of Digital Strategy, shared that there is now a dedicated team at the White House focused on forging partnerships with content creators. Tom remarked on how the nature of celebrity has evolved and referred to President Biden as a content creator himself, highlighting the White House’s digital presence and its effort to appear in social media feeds in an authentic and surprising way.
Representative Khanna acknowledges that engaging with streamers can make establishment politicians uncomfortable, as these conversations are unscripted and force politicians to reveal their true selves. However, he believes that this is what young voters want – authenticity, rather than standard talking points.
Live-streamers have played an increasingly significant role in politics, as seen with political streamer Hasan Piker who gained popularity on Twitch after streaming more than 80 hours of live coverage during the 2020 election. He has since built a large audience for his progressive commentary on various issues. Streamers like Bonnell and Kochinski have also made tangible impacts in politics, mobilizing their fan bases to support Democratic politicians through canvassing efforts and phone calls.
As the 2024 election season approaches, Bonnell hopes that more streamers can exert influence and effect real-world change in American politics. He notes that while political commentators have much to say, it’s important to go beyond words and take action. Together with other streamers, he aims to unite their fan bases to make a difference across the political landscape.
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