How can digital storytelling and social media influence political power? Frank Santos takes a look at Zohran Mamdani’s record-breaking grassroots fundraising through millions of online impressions and Deja Foxx’s viral, youth-driven campaign that raised over $600,000 from small donors. Together, they reveal how the next generation of campaigns are being waged not just in rallies or debates, but in the algorithm itself — and how New Jersey’s political future may depend on who tells their story best online.
Scroll to the Poll: How Social Media Feeds Elections is a three-part video series that reveals how online narratives are reshaping New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race and beyond. Episode 1 shows how scandals, outrage, and right-wing dominance online can tilt elections and silence dissenting voices. Episode 2 highlights campaigns like Zohran Mamdani’s in New York and Deja Foxx’s in Arizona, proving how social media fuels fundraising and visibility. Episode 3 brings it home to South Jersey, where local battles in Cherry Hill, Gen Z climate activists, and even global lessons from Nepal show how digital platforms can empower — or overpower — democracy.
This story is part of the NJ 2025 Reporting Fellowship, in collaboration with 15 local and community news organizations, the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University, and NJ Spotlight News. The stories in this collaboration focus on immigration, education, healthcare, the economy, and the environment from the perspectives of diverse communities in New Jersey.