An unlikely streaming platform has become a major hub for election news. Twitch is typically used by gamers to broadcast live video games and for public figures to interact with fans. Now, Gen Z and millennials, who are the majority of users on Twitch, are watching for political commentary on the platform.
Twitch first gained political recognition in 2020 when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., streamed the hit game “Among Us.”
This election year, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has been using Twitch to live stream events. Most recently, the rally for Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., in Arizona on Wednesday, Oct. 9, was broadcast live to thousands.
Last week, former Rep. George Santos was on Twitch playing Fortnite while discussing politics and cancel culture.
On Monday, Aug. 5, former President Donald Trump also participated in the live-streaming trend on Kick with well-known conservative creator Adin Ross. The interview got more than 500,000 live viewers.
Both political parties invited social media content creators to their national conventions this year to get more online exposure. More than 200 of them were in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention, while nearly 100 conservative influencers attended the Republican National Convention.
