Secret Dark Money Funds Top Democratic Influencers
▼ Summary
– Democratic influencers were offered $8,000 per month by Chorus to bolster party messaging online but faced restrictive contract terms including secrecy and content limitations.
– Influencers debated collective action to negotiate changes but ultimately accepted the contract with minimal modifications due to its take-it-or-leave-it nature.
– The group included prominent creators with large followings, representing key voices for Democratic outreach in digital spaces.
– Democrats have historically struggled to collaborate effectively with influencers, with the Biden White House excluding critics over policy disagreements.
– After electoral losses, Democrats faced criticism for relying on outdated media strategies while Republicans built strong creator relationships and independent media infrastructure.
A secretive funding initiative has emerged as a major force in shaping political messaging online, with top Democratic influencers offered substantial monthly payments to amplify party-aligned content under strict confidentiality agreements. This behind-the-scenes effort highlights the growing influence of digital creators in modern political strategy and raises questions about transparency in political advocacy.
In a private group chat last June, dozens of prominent Democratic content creators debated whether to accept an offer of $8,000 per month to participate in a covert program designed to strengthen Democratic messaging across digital platforms. The opportunity came from Chorus, the nonprofit division of a liberal influencer marketing platform, but the contract contained significant restrictions. Participants were required to maintain strict secrecy about their compensation and faced limitations on the types of political content they could produce.
Within their private discussion, influencers expressed mixed feelings about the terms. Laurenzo, a nonbinary creator from Ohio with over 884,000 TikTok followers, questioned whether they should negotiate collectively or individually. Others humorously referenced union organizing, with reality television star and public defender Eliza Orlins joking about collective action by quoting the musical Newsies. Despite their combined social media reach exceeding 13 million followers, the group struggled to coordinate a unified response.
Some participants expressed resignation about the contract’s inflexibility. Pari, an influencer focused on reproductive justice, noted that while several clauses needed revision, the organization seemed unwilling to make further changes. Aaron Parnas, a Gen Z news commentator often compared to Walter Cronkite, advised others to accept the terms as non-negotiable. Eventually, many creators signed the agreement, moving into what Pari described as “Stage 5: Acceptance.”
This development occurs against a backdrop of longstanding challenges in Democratic influencer relations. Earlier in 2024, the Biden administration distanced itself from several prominent creators who had voiced mild criticism regarding climate policy, COVID-19 handling, Gaza, and the proposed TikTok ban. Influencers like Hasan Piker, who questioned Vice President Kamala Harris, found themselves excluded from campaign events.
The Democratic Party’s post-election reckoning has forced a reevaluation of its digital outreach strategy. While Republican operatives spent years cultivating a powerful independent media ecosystem, tolerating minor disagreements with Donald Trump while leveraging controversy for engagement, Democrats largely relied on traditional media and outdated communication methods. This disparity in digital strategy has become increasingly evident as political influence continues shifting toward online platforms.
(Source: Wired)