Online hype promised a political breakthrough.
A charismatic TikTok figure, a neatly packaged story of hardship and perseverance, and an audience primed to believe disruption was inevitable—it all looked like the beginning of a new playbook for winning power.
Instead, the primaries in Arizona and New York delivered a sobering reminder: digital momentum can spark attention, but it cannot replace the slow, unglamorous work of earning trust where votes are actually cast.
Deja Foxx’s loss in Arizona’s 7th District became a clear example of where internet-driven politics can fall short. Her campaign resonated nationally, her messaging was sharp, and her online reach dwarfed that of her opponent.
But Adelita Grijalva brought something far more durable to the race: a name woven into the district’s history, longstanding relationships with labor groups, and a record of personal connections built over years. Voters weren’t rejecting progressive politics—they were choosing familiarity, credibility, and a presence that felt earned rather than imported for a viral moment.
New York offered a contrasting outcome. Zohran Mamdani’s victory reflected years of groundwork that never trended online but mattered deeply offline. By organizing tenants, engaging faith communities, and showing up consistently in neighborhoods long before election season, he built a reservoir of trust no social platform could replicate. His success sends a clear message to left-wing challengers eyeing powerful incumbents: meaningful change grows from patience and proximity, not just polished clips and algorithmic reach.
Conclusion
These races reveal a simple but often ignored truth of American politics. Social media can magnify a campaign, but it cannot substitute for relationships forged over time.
Candidates who mistake visibility for legitimacy risk disappointment, while those who invest in communities—block by block, meeting by meeting—create movements that endure. In the end, attention may travel at the speed of the internet, but elections are still won face to face.