US Midterm Candidates Use Undisclosed AI in Campaign Ads

Political candidates in the 2026 U.S. midterms are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to produce campaign advertisements, often in violation of state disclosure laws. Data from the Wesleyan Media Project identified at least 164 AI-generated or enhanced ads, finding that 69% lacked the required disclosures. The research revealed a significant gap in compliance, noting that only 29% of ads in states with AI regulations included disclosures, compared to 32% in states without such laws.

In New York, the State Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Board of Elections in August against Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman. The complaint alleges Blakeman violated state law by failing to disclose AI-generated images of Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani in an attack advertisement. While some campaigns employ AI for satire, others use the technology for deceptive attacks.

Experts describe current state-level regulations as a patchwork and argue that federal standardization is necessary to provide clearer guidelines. Some strategists warn that the technology could facilitate the spread of misinformation if misused, while others suggest that AI can help campaigns tell better stories if implemented correctly.