Cindy Hyde-Smith AI media incident — Oct 2026

The campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom sparked significant controversy in Mississippi after releasing AI-generated media targeting his Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The campaign utilized synthetic content to criticize the Senator's record and public appearances, drawing mixed reactions from voters and sharp condemnation from the Mississippi Republican Party.

What happened

The controversy centers on a 20-second video posted to social media that features a figure resembling Sen. Hyde-Smith. The AI-generated clip depicts the Senator appearing to avoid reporters and refusing to answer questions. Colom defended the use of the technology, describing the video as being based on a true story and framing it as a creative method to engage younger voters. He argued that the public understands the nature of the advertisement and the point his campaign is attempting to make regarding the Senator's accessibility.

In addition to the video, the Colom campaign previously released an AI-generated audio clip that appeared to be a phone call between himself and Sen. Hyde-Smith. This earlier release also drew backlash from his opponent. The use of these tools has prompted a broader debate among Mississippi voters regarding the ethics of AI in political discourse. While some voters expressed concerns that such content is inherently misleading to those who might not recognize it as synthetic, others viewed it as a reflection of the candidate's personal opinion.

Colom has stated that he supports regulations requiring consent for the use of AI, though he noted that his opponent currently holds a position on a committee with the power to regulate AI and data centers. The Mississippi Republican Party, through Executive Director Rance Bilbo, criticized the campaign's reliance on AI as evidence of an unserious approach to the race. Sen. Hyde-Smith’s campaign has not provided a comment on the matter.