$137 Million in AI-Generated Ads Flood the Midterms
More than 220 AI-generated ads drew over $137 million in spending, and 80% came from Republican campaigns or GOP-aligned PACs, researchers said.
- The Wesleyan Media Project identified more than 220 political ads using artificial intelligence during the 2026 midterm season, with Republican campaigns and GOP-aligned PACs accounting for over 80% of these ads and more than $137 million in spending.
- Republican candidates and groups have rushed to adopt the technology, using AI tools to create stock footage and depict opponents alongside polarizing figures, significantly reducing production costs from nearly $2 million to about $200,000 per ad.
- Researchers found that about 70% of reviewed ads lacked disclaimers, with nearly half featuring deepfakes of real politicians. New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman published an AI-generated ad depicting Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani promoting a satirical "political delusion pill."
- Democratic candidates, who sponsored just 12% of identified ads, remain wary of the technology due to reputational risks and voter concerns. Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico explicitly labeled his content as "Made by humans, not AI."
- With midterms just over two weeks away, only 30 states mandate AI disclosures for political advertisements. Political consultants are actively lobbying against federal rules that would override state-level requirements and force labeling on all AI content.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
$137 million in AI-generated ads flood the midterms
It was an unlikely scene: New York’s mayor and governor appeared to be strolling through a park and gardening together in a sun-drenched suburban yard, promoting a new drug — a “political delusion pill,” they called it — to help voters overcome fears about affordability and crime.
GOP goes wild on deep fake campaign ads: 'Deception is a pretty good strategy'
Republican campaigns and their allies are filling the midterm airwaves with AI-generated fakes – and most of the ads don’t tell voters about their origins.The Wesleyan Media Project found more than 220 ads during this election cycle that used AI-generated material, which candidates and political groups have spent more than $137 million promoting, and the New York Times reported that more than 80 percent were produced by Republican campaigns or G…
"$137 Million in A.I.-Generated Ads Flood the Midterms" #ELB
NYT: It was an unlikely scene: New York’s mayor and governor appeared to be strolling through a park and gardening together in a sun-drenched suburban yard, promoting a new drug — a “political delusion pill,” they called it — to … Continue reading “$137 Million in A.I.-Generated Ads Flood the Midterms” →
Millions of dollars spent on AI-generated political ads as midterms approach
KBOI-TV CBS 2 covers news, sports, traffic, and weather in the Treasure Valley and Boise, Idaho and nearby communities, including Meridian, Nampa, Garden City, Caldwell, Kuna, Middleton, Eagle, Mountain Home, Star, Melba, Payette, Weiser, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho City, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, New Plymouth, Murphy, Fruitland, Emmett, Wilder, Notus, McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, Council, and Vale, Oregon, and Nyssa, Oregon, Ontario, Oregon.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
