The Influencer Industrial Complex is Warping Local Politics

Political content creators are seeking to build their brands through collabbing with candidates, often without proper disclosure.

In late February, Alexis Rose Hinkley, a Los Angeles influencer with over 1.1 million followers on TikTok and more than half a million on Instagram, sent an email to Rae Huang’s campaign with a proposal. She touted her “large, highly engaged following” and asked the campaign for payment. She wanted $2,000 per month for a minimum of six months for “strat…