AI deepfake video of NY-21 congressional candidate…

In October 2025, a political controversy emerged in the race to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik after Republican candidate Anthony Constantino released an AI-generated video featuring his opponent, Democrat Blake Gendebien. The advertisement depicted Gendebien speaking words he never actually said, utilizing technology to create a hyper-realistic visual and auditory likeness of the candidate.

What happened

The incident involved the use of artificial intelligence to synthesize a candidate's appearance and voice for a campaign advertisement. Constantino defended the creation of the video as a response to a previous AI-generated advertisement produced by the Gendebien campaign, which had targeted Congresswoman Stefanik. While Gendebien characterized the video as a deceptive attempt to put words in his mouth, he defended his own previous use of AI as an act of satire and lighthearted parody.

Political science experts, including SUNY Plattsburgh professor Harvey Schantz, noted that the video remains within the bounds of current New York state election law. Because Constantino included a clear disclosure at the top of the advertisement stating that the content was generated by artificial intelligence, the material is considered permissible. This case highlights the ongoing tension between the use of synthetic media in political campaigning and the protections afforded by the First Amendment, as the legal framework continues to grapple with the implications of deepfake technology in elections.