The incoming elections are running through the political norms like a freight train, and now the candidates are finalizing their ingenious campaigns in order to bring in voters. Millionaire Donald Trump, and once-First Lady, Hillary Clinton, both launched their run for office, and took to social media to reach younger voters.

Democratic candidate, Clinton, adopted myriad platforms of social media, including Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, and even Spotify. Hillary’s Snapchat story in Cedar Rapids, Iowa went viral as teens transformed it into a meme. On the waterside, with her Koozie sporting the slogan “Chillary Clinton” the democratic candidate tells her viewers “I’m just chilling, in Cedar Rapids!”  This video hit the internet by storm with many Vines recreating it and putting it to music. Her Cedar Rapids vine has 17 million views and over one hundred thousand likes, as the reciprocating edits have over 30 thousand reposts. Clinton has three point seven million Twitter followers, and nine hundred thousand Facebook likes. Social media doesn’t win elections, but for Clinton it is getting her ideas out there. Hillary has tweeted about her opinions on women’s rights and education, as well as the Iran Deal. Standing up for women, and fighting for equality between genders, Clinton’s campaign also states plans to raise minimum wages. Taking ideas posted on social media to the television, Hillary was featured and interviewed on Ellen. Prior to the release of the show, both Clinton and Ellen tweeted to promote the show. The talk show host and the candidate referred to their fashion sense, telling each other to “Pantsuit up.” Hillary’s immense popularity on social media is boosting her in the polls and helping her on her way to office.

Business man and now presidential candidate, Donald Trump, also took to social media to campaign. With a whopping four million twitter followers, Trump has the most of all the candidates.  On Instagram, the millionaire has over three hundred thousand followers, a weak number compared to his almost seven million Facebook views. Just like Hillary Clinton, Trump has also been turned into a Vine trend. A combination of things said during a campaign tour speech, the vine has over 130 hundred thousand reposts and twice that in likes. This video features Trump saying “Hello,” “I heard you people like trucks,” and a mix of him making noises. As many other candidates have done the same, Trump uses Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to promote his plans and ideas about our country.  His tweet announcing his run for office has over 12 thousand retweets, while a tweet about President Obama has over 21 thousand retweets*. The billionaires announcement about running for office had less popularity than his opinions in regards to the president, showing what most of his supporters stand for. The millionaires immense popularity is shown as his Facebook post in regards to Hillary Clinton has 200 thousand likes. Trump states, “I am honored, however, that she is attacking me, instead of Jeb Bush. Obviously she knows that Jeb is no longer her real competition. The last person she wants to face is Donald Trump.” The businessman’s tweet about self-funding his own campaign has 310 thousand likes. Throughout August, Trump had over one and a half million twitter mentions, topping his fellow republican candidates by over a million. Like Hillary interacting with Ellen, Donald Trump’s family is supporting his run and are tweeting about him and his plans. Eric Trump, Donald’s son, tweeted out a picture of his father, that has two thousand retweets. The Trump family in total has over seven million followers on Twitter. Immigration and gun rights have been Trump’s main focus points for his topics in debates and on social media. Trumps billions have earned him followers on social media and this is helping his run for the office.

In November, voting will start and by February, America will have elected it’s 45th President.  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump top the charts now and might take the spot in office. Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden could pull through. Social media is taking a toll on the popularity of candidates now; it is changing the outcome of the upcoming election. 

*Atkin, Emily. “Trump Says Americans Won’t Vote For Another Black President Because Obama Was So Bad.” ThinkProgress. The Center for American Progress, 02 Aug. 2015. Web. 28 Sept. 2015