Wesleyan Project Counts 220+ AI Political Ads in 2026 Cycle, Costing Nearly $137 Million

4.0 · 8d ago · US · AI

The Facts

  • AI ads are being used more than ever in the US midterms campaign ahead of the November elections, according to researchers; some are funded by outside political groups and some come directly from candidates in key races. ✓2 · BBC, NBC News
  • The Wesleyan Media Project identified at least 220 ads produced or enhanced with AI by candidates or political action committees this election cycle, costing just under $137 million. NBC News only
  • Only 27% of the 220 ads analyzed by the Wesleyan Media Project disclosed that they used AI tools. NBC News only
  • Spending on AI ads in the 2024 presidential election was under $50,000; as of May this year, spending on AI ads had reached $20 million. NBC News only
  • South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was depicted in two AI-generated videos, including one showing her taking a polygraph test that catches fire; the videos are said to have been paid for by a PAC. The ads carried a disclosure that they were AI dramatizations. NBC News only
Dive deeper · 4 more factsShow less
  • Evette's campaign released an AI-generated video falsely depicting opponent Alan Wilson rejecting a call from President Trump, labeled as AI-generated. Evette lost the June Republican gubernatorial primary to Wilson, South Carolina's attorney general. NBC News only
  • Travis Ridout of Washington State University, a Wesleyan Media Project director, estimates about 30 states have some rule or requirement on AI in political campaigns; there is no federal law regulating it. NBC News only
  • A deepfake circulated during the Minnesota primaries showing Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, smiling amid mountains of money. NBC News only
  • BBC Verify has tracked dozens of AI ads to assess how campaigns are using them. BBC only

Context

AI-generated content is appearing in US midterm campaign advertising at a much higher rate than in 2024, according to the Wesleyan Media Project data cited by NBC News and research referenced by the BBC.

Ridout said much of the growth came over the summer, linked to closely fought primaries, and expressed concern that voters could base decisions on falsehoods. Evette said AI lowers campaign production costs and will persist.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 0.

4 Informed Citizen The story reports a research tally of AI political ads and spending, a notable trend with limited direct impact on ordinary people beyond concerns about misinformation and an absence of federal regulation.
4 News Editor The story reports a research tally of AI political ads and spending, a concrete finding with notable trend growth, but it has limited direct impact on most people and no new government action or major event.
4 Policy Expert The story reports research findings on the growth of AI political ads, a notable trend, but no new law, ruling, or executive action; impact is limited to campaign advertising awareness despite the state-level rules and absence of federal law being mentioned as background.
4 Business Analyst The story reports a research tally of AI political ads and spending trends, a notable trend for election integrity, but it describes no new regulatory action or market-moving event, and the impact is limited to campaign advertising.
4 Science & Tech Analyst This story reports a research tally of AI-generated political ads showing rapid growth and low disclosure, a notable trend in election integrity, but it describes no new law, enforcement action, or large-scale immediate impact, so it sits in the minor-to-moderate range.
4 Global Affairs Analyst This story reports a research tally of AI political ads and their spending, a notable trend with no federal regulation, but it describes no concrete binding action, treaty, or major political shift, so its impact is moderate-to-limited.
4 Critical Reader The story reports a measurement from a research project (220 AI ads, $137M spending) and some deepfake examples, but no new regulation, enforcement, or verified harm event, so it is a notable trend report with moderate-to-limited concrete impact.

Sources (2)

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