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

“We absolutely need them,” said Sawyer Hackett, a Democratic strategist who produces online videos about politics. “The problem is, they have their own motives, and they’re not journalists, and they can inject themselves into these races however the hell they want. And that’s not tenable.”

And ultimately, Jones said, it’s up to the campaigns to be careful in how they work with political influencers to ensure they do not end up controlling the narrative of the race.

“It’s dangerous,” he said. “But they’re here. We have to figure out who’s reputable, who’s not.”