Campaigns reach for influencer megaphones for ‘organic’ media strategy
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Political candidates are increasingly leaning on influencers to reach their target audiences as a more “organic” campaign strategy heading into the 2026 primary elections.
Several candidates have already been seen using influencers to help them expand their reach and audience in the areas that matter most. Digital strategists explained to the Washington Examiner that local influencers‘ content can reach voters where they are.
“I think it’s helpful if the candidate is able to do it authentically, it works the best if the creators are local rather than political,” one Democratic digital director told the Washington Examiner. “Political creators are fine, it’s just hard to know if it’s hitting your constituency.”
Texas state Rep. James Talarico clenched the Texas Democratic Senate nomination earlier this month, over the rising star Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), after spending almost $20 million on ads and working with influencers all over the state.
“Organic is the name of the game,” CEO of Girl and the Gov and Influencer Sammy Kanter echoed the thoughts of other strategists. “The content that sort of just comes together naturally is always going to, in my eyes, perform better, and also just feel more authentic, and, in turn, will be a net benefit for the candidate, the campaign, etc.”
“Something that’s local, something, you know, that connects the dots,” she said.
Talarico used a number of local influencers across the state, from Houston-based Democratic influencer Olivia Julianna and Austin-based Democratic influencer Jared Shult to Texas Tech track star and social media influencer Sam Hurley and El Paso food influencer Marisol Benitez.
Both Julianna and Shult, among other influencers, were seen at Talarico’s primary election night watch party, generating content before Talarico even clinched the nomination.
View this post on Instagram
While traditional ad buys are still dominating politics as campaigns continue to pour millions into them, Kanter explained that it is beneficial for campaigns to create media that can be repurposed for different platforms.
“I think when you’re thinking about any type of media strategy, you have to think about how every piece of that puzzle can be used across one another,” Kanter said of mixing traditional and nontraditional media.
Political candidates have not been the only people to tap creators to boost engagement in the communities they look for the most.
At President Donald Trump’s White House, press …
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Political candidates are increasingly leaning on influencers to reach their target audiences as a more “organic” campaign strategy heading into the 2026 primary elections.
Several candidates have already been seen using influencers to help them expand their reach and audience in the areas that matter most. Digital strategists explained to the Washington Examiner that local influencers‘ content can reach voters where they are.
“I think it’s helpful if the candidate is able to do it authentically, it works the best if the creators are local rather than political,” one Democratic digital director told the Washington Examiner. “Political creators are fine, it’s just hard to know if it’s hitting your constituency.”
Texas state Rep. James Talarico clenched the Texas Democratic Senate nomination earlier this month, over the rising star Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), after spending almost $20 million on ads and working with influencers all over the state.
“Organic is the name of the game,” CEO of Girl and the Gov and Influencer Sammy Kanter echoed the thoughts of other strategists. “The content that sort of just comes together naturally is always going to, in my eyes, perform better, and also just feel more authentic, and, in turn, will be a net benefit for the candidate, the campaign, etc.”
“Something that’s local, something, you know, that connects the dots,” she said.
Talarico used a number of local influencers across the state, from Houston-based Democratic influencer Olivia Julianna and Austin-based Democratic influencer Jared Shult to Texas Tech track star and social media influencer Sam Hurley and El Paso food influencer Marisol Benitez.
Both Julianna and Shult, among other influencers, were seen at Talarico’s primary election night watch party, generating content before Talarico even clinched the nomination.
View this post on Instagram
While traditional ad buys are still dominating politics as campaigns continue to pour millions into them, Kanter explained that it is beneficial for campaigns to create media that can be repurposed for different platforms.
“I think when you’re thinking about any type of media strategy, you have to think about how every piece of that puzzle can be used across one another,” Kanter said of mixing traditional and nontraditional media.
Political candidates have not been the only people to tap creators to boost engagement in the communities they look for the most.
At President Donald Trump’s White House, press …
Campaigns reach for influencer megaphones for ‘organic’ media strategy
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Political candidates are increasingly leaning on influencers to reach their target audiences as a more “organic” campaign strategy heading into the 2026 primary elections.
Several candidates have already been seen using influencers to help them expand their reach and audience in the areas that matter most. Digital strategists explained to the Washington Examiner that local influencers‘ content can reach voters where they are.
“I think it’s helpful if the candidate is able to do it authentically, it works the best if the creators are local rather than political,” one Democratic digital director told the Washington Examiner. “Political creators are fine, it’s just hard to know if it’s hitting your constituency.”
Texas state Rep. James Talarico clenched the Texas Democratic Senate nomination earlier this month, over the rising star Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), after spending almost $20 million on ads and working with influencers all over the state.
“Organic is the name of the game,” CEO of Girl and the Gov and Influencer Sammy Kanter echoed the thoughts of other strategists. “The content that sort of just comes together naturally is always going to, in my eyes, perform better, and also just feel more authentic, and, in turn, will be a net benefit for the candidate, the campaign, etc.”
“Something that’s local, something, you know, that connects the dots,” she said.
Talarico used a number of local influencers across the state, from Houston-based Democratic influencer Olivia Julianna and Austin-based Democratic influencer Jared Shult to Texas Tech track star and social media influencer Sam Hurley and El Paso food influencer Marisol Benitez.
Both Julianna and Shult, among other influencers, were seen at Talarico’s primary election night watch party, generating content before Talarico even clinched the nomination.
View this post on Instagram
While traditional ad buys are still dominating politics as campaigns continue to pour millions into them, Kanter explained that it is beneficial for campaigns to create media that can be repurposed for different platforms.
“I think when you’re thinking about any type of media strategy, you have to think about how every piece of that puzzle can be used across one another,” Kanter said of mixing traditional and nontraditional media.
Political candidates have not been the only people to tap creators to boost engagement in the communities they look for the most.
At President Donald Trump’s White House, press …
0 Comments
0 Shares
34 Views
0 Reviews
