Democratic pols ditch Twitter after Elon Musk takeover, report shows

Since Elon Musk took over the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, a new report suggests that Congressional Democrats’ use of the platform has significantly dropped off. According to a report by public affairs firm Quorum, significantly more Republican lawmakers used X in 2024 than their Democratic colleagues. In fact, of the top 20 most active accounts for members of Congress, only one Democrat – Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida – made the list at number 15.

This decline in Democratic usage of X is a stark change from previous years. In Quorum’s 2023 report, which came out just over a year after Musk bought the site, the top 10 most active congressional accounts were nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. However, in 2024, all of the top 10 most active accounts belong to Republicans.

Many Democrats have slowed their usage of X since Musk’s ownership, with some accusing him of using the platform to bolster President-elect Donald Trump and right-wing causes. On the other hand, Musk and his allies argue that they are creating a more user-controlled experience that promotes free speech.

The report also highlighted a survey from 2023 that showed a decrease in Americans who identify as Democrats using the app. This decline in usage is not only seen among the general public but also among public officials, particularly those on the left.

For example, Rep. Dwight Evans from Pennsylvania, who was the most active Democratic lawmaker on X in 2023, saw a sharp decrease in post frequency by 66% in 2024. Similarly, the activity on X accounts for California Reps. Robert Garcia and Ted Lieu, both Democrats, fell by 35% and 26%, respectively.

In 2024, the most frequently active X accounts belonged to Rep. Chip Roy from Texas and Sen. Ted Cruz, also from Texas. Republican lawmakers accounted for 54.4% of X posts by members of Congress in 2024, compared to 45.1% for Democrats. This is a significant shift from 2023 when Democrats made up 50.8% of lawmakers’ activity on X.

While some lawmakers delegate control of their X accounts to their staff, others like Cruz, Roy, and Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska are known for actively engaging with other X users directly. Frost, the only Democrat in the top 20 most frequent congressional X users of 2024, cautioned fellow liberals not to abandon the platform to Republicans, as it could lead to a lack of progressive ideology on the platform.

In conclusion, the shift in X usage among Congressional Democrats since Elon Musk took over the platform is evident. As Republicans dominate the most active accounts, it remains to be seen how Democrats will navigate their presence on the platform moving forward.