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By the numbers: Political tweets turn blue in 2018

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images.

New data from Twitter shows the top 10 U.S. politicians who were most tweeted about in the few weeks after the midterm elections were Democrats, replacing a list that was once dominated by GOP lawmakers the majority of 2018.

Why it matters: The political clout and conversation is changing with its politicians. Republicans like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) who once dominated the subject of tweets, are now being replaced by nominated House speaker Nancy Pelosi and outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke in the rankings, per Twitter.

Expand chart
Data: Twitter; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

By the numbers: Twitter tracked the most tweeted about elected officials or candidates before and after the midterms.

  • The top five most tweeted about politicians during the year were Republicans, with Donald Trump holding the number one spot. After the election, spots two though six were Democrats — though Trump still held the top spot.
  • Twitter users closely followed along with elections in states like Georgia and Florida that were too close to call after the polls closed.

Go deeper:

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
14 mins ago - Politics & Policy

McConnell drops filibuster demand, paving way for power-sharing deal

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell attend a joint session of Congress. Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has abandoned his demand that Democrats state, in writing, that they would not abandon the legislative filibuster.

Between the lines: McConnell was never going to agree to a 50-50 power sharing deal without putting up a fight over keeping the 60-vote threshold. But the minority leader ultimately caved after it became clear that delaying the organizing resolution was no longer feasible.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Ashley Gold
1 hour ago - Technology

Scoop: Google won't donate to members of Congress who voted against election results

Sen. Ted Cruz led the group of Republicans who opposed certifying the results. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Google will not make contributions from its political action committee this cycle to any member of Congress who voted against certifying the results of the presidential election, following the deadly Capitol riot.

Why it matters: Several major businesses paused or pulled political donations following the events of Jan. 6, when pro-Trump rioters, riled up by former President Trump, stormed the Capitol on the day it was to certify the election results.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Minority Mitch still setting Senate agenda

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Chuck Schumer may be majority leader, yet in many ways, Mitch McConnell is still running the Senate show — and his counterpart is about done with it.

Why it matters: McConnell rolled over Democrats unapologetically, and kept tight control over his fellow Republicans, while in the majority. But he's showing equal skill as minority leader, using political jiujitsu to convert a perceived weakness into strength.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow