David Crowley AI image incident — Oct 2026

During the lead-up to the November 3 election, Wisconsin voters received political mailers featuring AI-generated imagery of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley. The materials, distributed by a Virginia-based Republican dark money group known as First Amendment LLC, utilized synthetic media to depict the candidate in unflattering and hyperbolic contexts.

What happened

First Amendment LLC, which has spent approximately $13 million in Wisconsin races, sent out multiple fliers containing AI-generated depictions of David Crowley. One mailer portrayed the candidate surrounded by flames with text labeling his tenure as a "dumpster fire," while another depicted him wearing a crown and sitting on a throne under the heading "KING OF TAXES."

While the images were clearly synthetic—with some recipients noting that the candidate in the photos did not look like the actual person—the mailers included a disclaimer on the back stating, "This content is generated by AI." These materials highlight a growing trend in Wisconsin politics where political action committees use generative technology to shape messaging and influence voter perception. Experts note that while Wisconsin law requires disclosure for AI-generated audio or video in paid campaign advertisements, print materials like these mailers remain largely unregulated. The use of such imagery has raised concerns among political scientists regarding AI literacy and the ability of voters to discern between authentic campaign information and synthetic, emotionally engaging content.