<![CDATA[Purpose: This study wants to find out how influencers' political communication strategies are used to influence young voters' choices in the 2024 East Kalimantan Governor Election in the city of Samarinda. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses a qualitative approach with purposive sampling techniques in data collection. The focus of this study uses Dan Nimmo's political communication theory, which includes political communicators, political messages, political channels or media, political targets, and the effects of political communication. Findings: The research shows that local influencers in Samarinda use social media as a political communication channel to reach and attract young voters. Influencers deliver political messages through short videos that are engaging, interesting, and easy to understand, helping young voters grasp political information and issues in the governor election. Practical Implication: This research aims to fill that gap through a more measured and contextual approach, with the goal of providing empirical and theoretical contributions to political campaigns in the digital era. This study is also important to understand the effects of influencer political communication in shaping young voters' preferences in Samarinda more concretely, not just opinions or perceptions. Originality/value: Even though some previous studies by Sitorus et al. and Tajmika, have discussed the role of influencers in shaping public opinion and the effectiveness of social media in political campaigns, those studies are generally still quite general and haven't specifically focused directly on influencers' political communication strategies in shaping young voters' preferences.]]>
