Elon Musk’s Takeover of X Leads to Decrease in Democratic Use
The influence of Elon Musk on X, formerly known as Twitter, has had a significant impact on the social media platform’s usage among Congressional Democrats, according to a new report. The report, conducted by public affairs firm Quorum, reveals that in 2024, significantly more Republican lawmakers were active on X compared to their Democratic counterparts. Out of the top 20 most active accounts for members of Congress, only one – Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. – was from the left, ranking at No. 15.
A Sharp Shift in Usage Patterns
This trend represents a stark change from Quorum’s 2023 report, which was published shortly after Musk acquired the site. At that time, the top 10 most active congressional accounts consisted of six Republicans and four Democrats. However, the latest report shows that all the top 10 most active accounts now belong to Republicans.
Democrats Accuse Musk of Bias
A number of left-leaning individuals have criticized Musk’s ownership of X, accusing him of using the platform to support President-elect Donald Trump and right-wing causes. Musk and his allies, on the other hand, argue that they are creating a more user-controlled experience that promotes free speech.
The Decline in Democratic Usage
The report also highlights a 2023 survey which revealed a significant decrease in the number of self-identified Democratic users of X. “The use of X is on the decline among the general public after Elon Musk’s takeover, with Democrats driving the exodus, according to one survey conducted early last year,” the report states. It further notes that public officials, particularly those on the left, are also changing their social media habits.
Individual Democrats Decrease Activity
Quorum’s report provides examples of individual Democratic lawmakers who have significantly reduced their activity on X. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa., was the most active Democratic lawmaker on the platform in 2023, but his post frequency dropped by 66% this year. Activity from California Reps. Robert Garcia and Ted Lieu, both Democrats, fell by 35% and 26%, respectively.
Republican Dominance on X
In 2024, the most frequently active X accounts belonged to Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Republican lawmakers, as a whole, accounted for 54.4% of X posts by members of Congress, while Democrats made up 45.1%. This marks a shift from Quorum’s previous report in 2023, where congressional Democrats made up 50.8% of lawmakers’ activity on X, compared to 48.8% by Republicans.
Direct Engagement and Staff Control
It is important to note that it is common practice for congressional lawmakers to delegate control of their professional or personal X accounts, often to their staff members. However, there are lawmakers like Cruz and Roy, as well as Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who frequently engage with other X users directly.
Warning Against Ceding X to Republicans
Rep. Frost, the only Democrat among the top 20 most active congressional users of X in 2024, recently cautioned fellow liberals against abandoning the platform to Republicans. In an interview with Politico, he stated, “If we leave X, it will help Elon with his goal of making the platform void of any progressive ideology or the way we think about the world.”
