Rob Sand deepfake video — Oct 2026

Republican candidate Zach Lahn released a political advertisement featuring an AI-generated likeness of his opponent, Rob Sand, during the Iowa governor's race. The campaign material utilized synthetic media to depict Sand while making claims about his past political stances.

What happened

The advertisement included a voiceover stating, “He was a European model for real. Rob called himself extremely liberal in college.” To address transparency concerns, the ad featured a disclaimer in the bottom right-hand corner informing viewers that the content was AI-generated.

Zach Lahn defended the use of the technology, asserting that the underlying claims regarding Sand’s support for specific policies—such as gun control and the presence of transgender books in classrooms—were accurate. Lahn maintained that the focus should remain on the truthfulness of the content rather than the method of production. In response, the Rob Sand campaign criticized the move, stating that Lahn was attempting to trick voters by using AI to misrepresent Sand’s identity and platform.