Republican congressman posting deepfake videos of his…

In August 2026, Congressman Derrick Van Orden, a Republican representing western and central Wisconsin, began posting deepfake videos of his Democratic opponent, Rebecca Cooke, on social media. The videos manipulate Cooke's image to depict her saying things she did not actually state, highlighting the growing use of AI in American political campaigns.

What happened

The videos utilize AI platforms to manipulate Cooke's likeness, a process experts note has become significantly cheaper, faster, and easier to execute. While the posts include the phrase “Made with Grok Imagine,” they lack the specific “This video content generated by AI” disclaimer required by Wisconsin state law for manipulated political images. It remains unclear whether the content meets the legal definition required for regulation under state statute.

Bill Gates, executive director of the Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory at Arizona State University, noted that while AI facilitates the rapid spread of misinformation, it also creates a complex legal environment where prohibition efforts may face First Amendment challenges. Consequently, discourse is shifting toward mandatory disclosure requirements.

Cooke has characterized the videos as "nasty mudslinging" and "character defamation," advocating for federal guardrails to address deceptive political content. Conversely, a spokesperson for Van Orden’s campaign did not explain the use of the AI-generated videos, instead focusing on criticisms of Cooke’s record and rhetoric. Despite several bipartisan bills being introduced in Congress to regulate or limit the use of deepfakes in federal elections, no such federal measures have advanced toward passage. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges of regulating AI-generated media in highly competitive political environments where technology is increasingly used to shape public perception.