Using Twitter to fight the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of United States governors

This study explores how United States governors used Twitter in non-political contexts during the pandemic. We analysed the content and volume of governors' tweets during the pandemic using semantic network analysis and applied negative binomial regression analysis to identify the variables influencing their Twitter use. No content differences were found among the governors during the pandemic, regardless of party affiliations. Factors such as election wins and competition levels were significantly correlated with tweet volume. Governors prioritize political motives such as reelection over party affiliation on Twitter, using it strategically for political goals and increasing engagement during times of heightened public attention, such as COVID-19.