Senate Democrats are planning their first-ever summit for creators, independent journalists and new media, according to an invitation seen by Scalable. The full-day event—hosted by the Senate Democrats’ Strategic Communications Committee—will take place on February 11 at the US Capitol.
News of the summit hasn’t been previously reported.
Democrats have frequently acknowledged their party trails Republicans when it comes to influencer strategies.
“Democrats have historically had these really close relationships with institutional media, institutional culture — Hollywood and the traditional press. There’s this entire cultural ecosystem that the Trump campaign did a really good job of cultivating over a long period of time,” Rob Flaherty, deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign told Semafor after the 2024 election.
Ahead of the midterm elections in November, Democrats have been trying different tactics to catch up, including developing content with left-wing creators and pitching megadonors to open their wallets to “find the next Joe Rogan.”
They’ve also been working to boost their own social presence: Senate Democrats now have over 20 million followers across their social media accounts, up 80% from 2024, per data from the SCC. Engagement on those accounts also grew by 430% between 2024 and 2025.
The upcoming conference builds on these efforts.
The SCC is chaired by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, with Minnesota Senator Tina Smith as vice chair. The committee, which was established in 1974, has played different roles over time, including acting as an advisory board for Democratic leadership and helping Senate Democrats with research, policy and communications.
“It is imperative that Democrats find ways to communicate authentically and effectively to audiences where they are, and engaging with online creators and independent media is an essential part of doing just that,” Jeff Giertz, staff director of the SCC, said in a statement to Scalable. “We look forward to welcoming some of the most exciting creators and independent media to the US Capitol next month.”
The move also comes as President Trump has invited podcasters and independent media reporters to the White House briefing room during his second term. Trump was widely credited for appearing on a slew of podcasts during his 2024 campaign. He has also himself credited his win to those appearances, as well as his TikTok strategy.
This isn’t the first time Democrats have opened their doors to creators. The Biden administration hosted the White House’s first Creator Economy Conference in August 2024, which included about 100 creators and industry professionals. The Biden administration also briefed creators on the war in Ukraine.
But for Democrats, the urgency—and momentum—to elevate left-wing voices is now higher than ever. In December, Christian Tom, who previously ran the White House’s Office of Digital Strategy under Biden, launched AND Media with other White House alums. The venture-like media company provides funding and production support for left-leaning creators.
“Creators on the left are powerful, but they’re really unsupported,” said Aisha Shah, one of AND Media’s co-founders.
