In the run-up to the March 3, 2026 Texas primary elections, political campaigns are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) in political advertising — raising both strategic and ethical questions about election communications. Candidates at both ends of the political spectrum have used AI tools to create digitally altered videos and images that depict opponents in exaggerated or satirical contexts, blurring the line between legitimate messaging and manipulated content. Observers say this trend reflects a broader shift in digital campaigning where synthetically generated media plays a larger role in influencing voter perception.
One striking example comes from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who shared an AI-generated video showing incumbent Senator John Cornyn dancing with Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, even though the scenario never happened. The exaggerated, synthetically created visuals were clearly labeled by some platforms as altered or AI-generated, but experts warn that many viewers could still mistake them for real footage if they scroll too quickly.
On the Democratic side, campaigns have also experimented with AI in social media ads that portray candidates like Crockett among large crowds or convey symbolic imagery to energise supporters. While some of this content is acknowledged as using AI tools, there have been disputes over how much of the imagery was genuinely AI-generated and how much was produced through traditional creative work. Critics argue that even well-intentioned use of AI can confuse voters or erode trust if audiences aren’t clear about what’s authentic.
Beyond major statewide races, AI-generated content has cropped up in lower-profile contests too, including satirical videos that repurpose familiar political figures in unrelated or humorous scenarios. This growing prevalence of AI-driven political media has led news organisations and fact-checking groups to urge voters to verify sources and be cautious about sharing eye-catching content that might be synthetic or misleading.
