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

“These people do have power because you have a whole generation of people that get their news from what these folks are,” Dallas Jones, a Democratic strategist, said. “They’re nontraditional media that is an avenue for campaigns to be able to get their message out. Do I believe they’re shaping a lot of the discourse around this race? Absolutely.”

When Crockett shook up the primary with her campaign launch in December, the content machine went into overdrive.

Social media was flooded by commentators across the country fretting over her candidacy, with many convinced that her brand as a partisan flamethrower would alienate the independent and Republican voters necessary to win in a state President Donald Trump carried by 14 points just over a year ago.