US candidates and PACs, mostly tied to Republicans, have spent $137M+ on 220 AI-generated campaign ads in 2026; ~70% of the 220 videos didn't disclose AI use (Stuart A. Thompson/New York Times)

US candidates and PACs, mostly tied to Republicans, have spent $137M+ on 220 AI-generated campaign ads in 2026, with roughly 70% of the videos not disclosing AI use. Republicans have used AI-generated content more often than Democrats, ranging from subtle enhancements to convincing deepfakes.