TikTok Takeover: Schedule of Social Media Influencers Speaking at 2024 DNC

As political campaigns increasingly turn to social media to engage younger voters, the 2024 Democratic National Convention is embracing the trend by featuring a lineup of prominent social media influencers.

While politicians and celebrities have long been familiar faces at the convention, this marks the first time the DNC will feature influencers and content creators as credentialed attendees and speakers. These creators will share the same stage where President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Monday.

The lineup includes Deja Foxx, Nabela Noor, Carlos Eduardo Espina, Olivia Julianna and John Russell, who collectively boast over 24 million social-media followers. In addition to delivering speeches, each influencer has been granted unprecedented access at the DNC to create content and engage directly with their followers.

“Influencers have become trusted messengers because they have a direct connection with young people. The playbook for politics has evolved,” explained Dillon St. Bernard, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and expert on young voter engagement.

For Gen Z, social media has become their primary source of news and political information. To reach these millions of new voters, the DNC has accredited over 200 content creators in Chicago. Here’s a closer look at the selected influencer speakers and schedules:

Deja Foxx (@deja_foxx)

Deja Foxx, an Arizona abortion activist and former social media strategist for Vice President Kamala Harris, has 140K followers on TikTok. She was the first influencer to address the crowd on Monday night, sharing her story of being raised by a single mom, growing up in public housing, and relying on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health services. Foxx has worked in the reproductive rights field since her teenage years and was a member of Harris’s first presidential campaign.

Nabela Noor (@nabela)

Nabela Noor, a Bangladeshi-American entrepreneur and advocate for body positivity, was the second influencer to take the stage on Tuesday. With over 11 million followers across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, Noor is widely known for her efforts to promote self-love and inclusivity. Her speech aligned with the evening’s theme, “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” which contrasted the Harris-Walz ticket with their Republican rivals, Donald J. Trump and Senator JD Vance of Ohio.

Carlos Eduardo Espina (@carlos_eduardo_espina)

Carlos Eduardo Espina, the son of an Uruguayan father and a Mexican mother, has gained a massive following on TikTok with his videos about news, politics, food, soccer, and U.S. immigration policy. On Wednesday, Espina will take the stage, where he is expected to share his insights in English, despite typically posting in Spanish. Espina uses his platform to advocate for the rights of undocumented immigrants and to push for comprehensive immigration reform, often sharing personal stories to illustrate broader issues.

Olivia Julianna (@0liviajulianna)

Olivia Julianna, a well-known reproductive rights advocate from Texas, first gained widespread attention for her activism against restrictive abortion laws in her home state. Her efforts have earned her a significant following among young progressives. At the convention on Wednesday, she will speak on the theme of “A Fight for Our Freedoms.”

John Russell (@heyjohnrussell)

John Russell, a self-described “dirtbag journalist” with 11 million followers on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, will speak during the convention’s final night. Organizers have framed this night as a narrative about how the 2024 election is a fight “for our future.” Russell is known for making complex political issues accessible and understandable for a broad audience of young people. At the DNC, he will likely focus on energizing young voters and encouraging their participation in the electoral process.

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