# Democrats Win Big, Male Candidates Go Viral

> Democratic male candidates' social media thirst traps gain traction after midterms.
- Title: Democrats Win Big, Male Candidates Go Viral · NPR | Shortify
- Summary: Democratic male candidates' social media thirst traps gain traction after midterms. democrats, male candidates, social media · reported by NPR.
- Keywords: democrats, male candidates, social media, midterms, masculinity, trump, kamala harris, elections, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/14/nx-s1-6040507/democrats-male-candidates-masculinity-trump
- Published: 2026-11-14T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: democrats, male candidates, social media, midterms, masculinity, trump, kamala harris, elections, news
## Midterm Results Spark Social Media Trend
Democratic male candidates' social media thirst traps go viral after November 2026 elections.

> I'm looking at you, Rob Sand. I'm looking at you, Jon Ossoff. I'm looking at you, El-Sayed
## Tiger Beat Quiz Viral
Manoushka Guerrier created a Tiger Beat style personality quiz matching Democratic men to boy band personas.

> I created the entire tiger beat style personality quiz, complete with the different boy band personas
## Masculinity Debate
Political science professor Christina Wolbrecht links the trend to societal debates about masculinity and age.

> I think it's a function of our kind of society-wide debate about masculinity
## Age Factor
NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll shows majority of likely voters favor new ideas over experience in candidates.

> just ahead of the midterms, a majority of likely voters said they favored candidates with new ideas over those with experience
## Boyfriends We Deserve
Monica Venske's Instagram account highlights attractive Democrats to appeal to straight male voters.

> That's a girly thing to be, is a democrat
## Democratic Women Win
Democratic women won historic firsts including Keisha Lance Bottoms as first Black woman governor.

> Georgia's keisha lance bottoms will be the first black woman governor
## Electability Focus
Democrats aim to appeal to men after Kamala Harris lost the presidency in 2024.

> the feeling within the straight male demographic, if you will, was that it just wasn't cool to be a democrat
## Male Candidates' Appeal
Democratic male candidates gained 50 percent of men's vote after winning 43 percent in 2024.

> this year, the party won fifty percent of the men's vote
## Masculinity Response
Democratic candidates lean into masculinity with weightlifting videos and Love Island spoofs.

> el sayed at one point did a video spoofing love island
## Key takeaway

Democratic male candidates' social media attention reflects party's effort to appeal to men after Kamala Harris lost the presidency.