Full Breakdown
AI Ads Shape Spencer Pratt’s Mayoral Campaign
5/18/2026, 9:24:23 PM
AI in Politics: Recent History
AI “deepfakes” have entered elections since 2017. In 2024, Senator Richard Blumenthal warned of a “deluge of deception” after AI robocalls mimicking President Biden targeted New Hampshire voters. That year, a parody AI ad of Senator Kamala Harris led Governor Gavin Newsom to deem manipulation illegal.
Data, Legal Landscape & Gaps
Emerson College polls list Bass at 30 %, Pratt at 22 %, Raman at 19 %; Kalshi’s market gives Pratt a 26 % win probability. Pratt’s non-AI TV ad drew 14 million views, while AI videos attracted far fewer. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports 29 states with deep-fake laws—two ban synthetic content days before elections, 27 require disclosure.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Emerson College polls show Bass ahead, yet Kalshi’s market gives Pratt a 26 % win probability, illustrating divergent forecasting. Scholars split on AI ads’ effect: some see only base-mobilization, others claim minimal sway over undecided voters. No comprehensive federal AI-ad rule exists, and a recent court block of California’s law leaves legal standards uncertain.
Official Reactions & Criticism
Bass called the AI ads “very scary” and “absolutely 150 % fiction,” warning they could incite violence. Newsom said manipulating a voice in an ad “should be illegal.” Blumenthal warned about AI-driven deception. Klink defended Pratt’s AI use but urged disclosure. Jablonowski called for uniform platform guidelines. Critics note AI blurs fact from fabrication, creating a “burden on the public” (Jablonowski). Meghan Daum warned the ads could repel undecided voters. Brendan Nyhan said fear of AI’s impact exceeds evidence, describing the ads as base-mobilization.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you’re creating content that is not based in reality, and then platforms are amplifying it in order to attract more eyeballs, you are putting a burden on the public for figuring out what is real and what is factual, and what is fake and misleading,” — Mark Jablonowski, CEO, DSPolitical
- “Spencer Pratt is using AI the way it should be used, which is to sharpen reality,” — Matt Klink, Republican political consultant
- “There’s a lot more fear about the effects of AI in politics than evidence of the effects of AI in politics,” — Brendan Nyhan, political scientist, Dartmouth College
- “going to forever change how political ads are done.” — Jason Chaffetz, Fox News host and former U.S. Representative
Looking Ahead
The June 2 primary will narrow the field to two candidates for a November runoff. Pratt’s campaign will likely continue AI-generated ads, while advocacy groups push for uniform disclosure rules. Ongoing litigation over California’s AI-ad law may shape national policy and test synthetic media’s influence on voters.
