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Social media is a notorious source of disinformation, but if you’re careful about whom you follow, it’s also the best source for breaking news. On election night, Twitter and Instagram will be among the first places where many top analysts and political journalists will share their scoops and insights.
To make it easier to cut through the noise, Coins2Day has rounded up some of the best social media accounts to follow for the latest on the election. The roundup includes both Twitter and Instagram accounts, and is divided into three sections that focus on election results, political commentary, and partisan punditry.
To see who is winning and losing
Campaigns and some media outlets routinely offer false or misleading predictions, either out of partisan loyalty or in a bid to sway the outcome. Such predictions could be especially prevalent if the election is a tight one. To get a sense of what is really going on, here are five accounts known for being impartial:
Nate Silver, Editor-in-Chief of FiveThirtyEight: https://twitter.com/NateSilver538
Silver is the original election data nerd, and his Twitter feed is a statistician’s dream of carefully parsed information about who has an edge when it comes to turnout, votes cast, and more.
The Upshot: https://twitter.com/UpshotNYT
This is the Twitter account of the New York Times’ team of data journalists. During the election, the Upshot’s account offers timely information about results, polling, and more in tweets like this one:
The Associated Press: https://twitter.com/AP
No election is final until the AP calls it. Other news organizations rely on the election data the AP obtains from its thousands of reporters placed in counties across the country. This account will offer the most authoritative information about who wins the election and about important down-ballot races across the country.
Jon Ralston, Nevada Independent: https://twitter.com/RalstonReports
Ralston is the undisputed authority for all things Nevada. His state is competitive, and early trends there could be a sign for how the rest of the election will shake out.
Dave Wasserman, the Cook Political Report: https://twitter.com/Redistrict
Wasserman is also an NBC contributor, but he is best known for his work with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. On election night, he will be offering granular data and tips about key state trends, including tweets like this one:
Smart political insiders
These reporters and commentators are plugged into what the campaigns are thinking, and they will be quick to report breaking news from Washington, D.C., and beyond.
Maggie Haberman, the New York Times: https://twitter.com/maggieNYT
Haberman is among the most plugged-in reporters in the country. She will be offering a steady stream of her own reporting and sharing breaking news from elsewhere.
Mona Chalabi, data journalist: https://www.instagram.com/monachalabi/
Chalabi produces clever graphics on Instagram, accompanied by smart commentary such as in the post below:
The 19th: https://www.instagram.com/19thnews/
The 19th offers fresh perspectives on topics related to gender and politics. Check out its Instagram page to get a view of the U.S. Election beyond the usual punditry class.
Nicole Goodkind, Fortun e: https://twitter.com/NicoleGoodkind
The Twitter feed of Coins2Day’ s in-house political guru offers a smart curation of breaking political news from around the country. You can also view her White House list, which is a compilation of accounts from both liberal and conservative sources.
Jonathan Swan, Axios: https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan
The Axios political reporter is known for being especially plugged into President Trump’s inner circle. His Twitter feed is a source of scoops as well as informed takes from around the election universe.
Partisan pundits
Though the louder voices on social media can be abrasive, they provide insight into the mood of influential activists from both parties. The following accounts may not always provide the most reliable news reports, but they can be entertaining and are a great way to check the political temperature of each side.
Elie Mystal, The Nation: https://twitter.com/ElieNYC
Mystal is a grad of Harvard Law School, a former editor of the popular lawyers’ blog Above the Law, and an unapologetic voice of the liberal wing of the Democratic party. Expect a night filled with a lot of snark, like that of the tweet below.
Sean Davis, The Federalist: https://twitter.com/seanmdav
Davis is cofounder of the influential right-wing publication, The Federalist, and a conservative firebrand. His Twitter feed is a stream of invective against Democrats and mainstream media outlets such as the New York Times.
Dave Weigel, the Washington Post: https://twitter.com/daveweigel
Weigel leans liberal, but his Twitter account offers smart takes on both Democrats and Republicans.
Ed Morrissey, Hot Air: https://twitter.com/EdMorrissey
Morrissey has been an influential blogger in conservative spheres for more than two decades. Read his Twitter feed for Republican cheerleading but also insightful perspective on how the GOP shapes its political messaging.
