AI-Generated Deepfake Attack Ad Targets Texas Senate Candidate
A political attack ad released by the American Principles Project on behalf of GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton used generative AI to create a deepfake depicting Democratic candidate James Talarico as a doctor operating on a child, with commentary about transgender issues. The ad recreated the structure of the 1964 Johnson 'Daisy' campaign advertisement but substituted the nuclear explosion narrative with messaging opposing LGBTQ rights.
What happened
The American Principles Project, acting on behalf of GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton, released a political attack ad using generative AI to depict Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico as a doctor performing surgery on a young child.
The ad recreated the structure of Lyndon B. Johnson's famous 1964 campaign advertisement, which showed a girl in a field plucking daisy petals before a nuclear explosion. In this version, the girl lies on an operating table in front of an AI-generated version of Talarico, with a narrator stating: 'The trans industry preys on confused children. Irreversible puberty blockers. Cross-sex hormones. Sex-change surgeries.'
Reported impact
Democratic political strategist Max Flugrath characterized the ad as 'absolutely insane' and a 'desperate' attempt to save Paxton's sinking campaign.
D.C.-based journalist Amanda Moore called for jail time for using AI versions of candidates in political advertisements.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.