AI political ads have drawn more than $137 million in spending ahead of the November 3, 2026, US midterm elections, according to an estimate from the Wesleyan Media Project. The group identified 220 ads made at least partly with AI and said its count was almost certainly incomplete.

Key Takeaways

  • Republican candidates or groups sponsored 81% of the identified ads, while Democrats sponsored 12%.
  • Only 27% of the ads carried an AI disclaimer, according to the project.
  • Researchers said the ads may be more effective at mobilizing voters or raising money than changing candidate selection.

AI political ads and disclosure

The Wesleyan Media Project identified less than $50,000 in spending on AI-generated ads in the 2024 election cycle. It said detecting whether AI tools were used was difficult, making its 2026 tally likely an undercount.

There was no federal mandate requiring political ads to disclose AI use as of October 2026, although some states had enacted restrictions or disclosure requirements. Independent candidates or groups sponsored the remainder of the ads identified by the project.

Fabricated images target Senate candidates

One ad opposing Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed depicted a fabricated family photo and showed him playing a board game with inflammatory messages. Front Line Action, a political action committee aligned with Republican Senator Ted Cruz, was behind the video. A Federal Election Commission filing showed the group spent more than $92,000 on advertising opposing El-Sayed. The video carried an AI disclaimer.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff called for the removal of an undisclosed fabricated ad showing him receiving beauty treatments. The Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee focused on electing Republicans to the Senate, was behind it.

New York University's Center on Tech Policy said political AI content was likely more effective at mobilizing voters or raising money than influencing candidate selection. A survey by the nonprofit AAPC Foundation found that 73% of respondents considered it unacceptable for a campaign to use AI-generated images or video in an ad.

Next milestone

The US midterm vote is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

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