Democrats swept the midterms. Millions watched on livestreams with their favorite influencers

The Democratic party's victory in the recent midterms elections has significantly reshaped the media landscape, with livestreaming emerging as a new battleground for audience attention. Traditionally, television networks have held the reins of live election coverage, but the surge in online viewership has compelled media companies to adapt.

NBC News, owned by Comcast, exemplified this shift by launching the Kornacki Cam, a near-11-hour livestream featuring data expert Steve Kornacki. The stream blended Kornacki's thorough analysis with behind-the-scenes footage, amassing 29 million views across different platforms. Its peak concurrent viewership of over 300,000 viewers was sustained for nearly three hours.

However, the competition was not solely limited to established media outlets. Independent livestreamers, such as Hasan Piker, have increasingly played a pivotal role in political coverage. Piker, known for his Marxist ideology and controversial remarks like "America deserved 9/11," has been a significant figure in this digital revolution, drawing considerable attention from audiences who prefer independent, creator-led content.