Democrats Use Social Media Trends to Reclaim Masculinity
Democratic strategists and candidates are leveraging viral social media trends to attract male voters and counter perceptions that the party lacks masculinity.
A social media trend has emerged where users express romantic and physical attraction toward newly elected Democratic men through viral montages, parody magazine covers, and personality quizzes. Monica Venzke, a Democratic strategist, launched the Instagram account Boyfriends We Deserve to challenge the perception that the party is not manly or cool for straight men.
Several candidates and creators have embraced the movement. Michigan Senator-Elect Abdul El-Sayed produced a video spoofing the reality show Love Island, while content creator Manouschka Guerrier developed a Tiger Beat-style personality quiz featuring Democratic men. Additionally, the progressive organization Swing Left hosted a candidate lookalike contest in Chicago.
Political analysts view this focus on masculinity as a strategic response to the brand of manhood promoted by Donald Trump. The effort coincides with a shift in voter demographics, as the Democratic Party increased its share of the male vote to 50% in the most recent election, up from 43% in 2024. These developments occur alongside historic wins for Democratic women, including Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black woman governor of Georgia.
