In fiercely competitive Democratic Senate race, social media influencers increasingly drive the conversation

“This is all, to me, negative polarization,” Julianna said. “I think a lot of people have been negatively polarized into the position that they have” because of the online dustups.

The scraps have largely been fought without involvement from the candidates themselves.

Talarico has repeatedly affirmed that he is running a positive campaign and is uninterested in tearing down Crockett.

“I want to welcome Congresswoman Crockett into the Democratic primary race,” he said in a video on social media the day she joined the race, a message he has repeated in interviews and at campaign rallies since. “We will always treat Congresswoman Crockett with the utmost respect. She is my colleague and she is a leader in our state. She deserves nothing less.”