Unpaid creators use thirst traps to draw attention as Democrats pivot toward 2026 midterms

Supporters make the edits

Online creators are making videos that highlight Democratic politicians’ appearance, including edits of Ossoff. The creators Panetta spoke with said they were acting as supporters, not as paid partners with campaigns.

Ossoff’s campaign did not provide Panetta with a statement, and she said he does not repost the videos. She reported that the campaign appears to benefit from the attention without directly engaging with the edits.

More than one candidate

The videos are not limited to Ossoff. Panetta also found edits featuring El-Sayed, who is known for working out, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Other clips feature Mamdani and Obama, while Democratic accounts have posted edits of Ossoff and El-Sayed. The Democratic National Committee’s TikTok account, also known as the headquarters account, shared a side-by-side of the two with the caption, “There are 69 days until election day.”

A digital strategy shift

Using a candidate’s appearance to attract attention is not new; the article cites John F. Kennedy as an earlier example. What is different now is the use of social media edits and online fandom to circulate that appeal.

Panetta said the videos’ organic origins interest Democratic operatives seeking to regain online ground lost after the 2024 election. Ossoff’s campaign has also been praised for high-quality rally livestreams, which provide material for creators to turn into clips.