AI ads are popular in the 2026 midterms, but state laws haven’t stopped a lack of disclosure
In the 2026 midterms, AI-generated political advertisements are gaining popularity, but the lack of disclosure has raised concerns. A recent ad, featuring New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, is an example of such an ad. Despite appearing to be a typical campaign advertisement, the video actually promotes Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate running against Hochul, the Democratic incumbent.
The video employs AI-generated images of Mamdani and Hochul, but this fact is never mentioned in the ad. New York State has a law requiring disclosure of AI use in political communications, yet Blakeman's campaign did not comply with this requirement. The New York State Democratic Party has filed a complaint with the state's Board of Elections alleging a violation of this law.
Campaign advertisements using AI to attack rival candidates are common during the 2026 midterms, but the laws governing these disclosures vary by state. A study by the Wesleyan Media Project identified at least 164 political ads generated or enhanced with AI during the current election cycle, with 69% of them not disclosing the use of AI tools.
Only 29% of ads from states with regulations included a disclosure. Experts suggest that more effective regulation is needed to address this issue.
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