A conservative nonprofit has released several online advertisements featuring U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, using artificial intelligence to create scenarios that are not real. The ads, which have garnered millions of views online, aim to portray Talarico in controversial situations.
One ad depicts Talarico in an outfit reminiscent of Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music,” singing a modified version of the song “My Favorite Things.” The altered lyrics include lines such as “Boys in white dresses with blue satin sashes, girls dosed with hormones ’til they grow mustaches, changing the gender of all your offspring, these are a few of my favorite things.”
Another ad shows a disheveled Talarico standing in the street with a sign around his neck that reads, “God is nonbinary.” In this depiction, he appears to say, “Jesus Christ was a radical feminist. He helped me reckon with my whiteness, my masculinity.”
These advertisements are part of a broader trend of political campaigns utilizing AI-generated content. Experts express concern about the public’s ability to discern truth from falsehoods in an increasingly saturated media landscape.
Citizens for Sanity, the group behind these ads, has posted six AI-generated videos mocking Talarico. While the group did not comment for this report, their ads follow a pattern of AI-assisted content appearing in various political races across the country, including in recent Texas primaries where both Democrats and Republicans have employed the technology.
Adrian Shelley, Texas director of Public Citizen, predicts that AI-generated political content will be more prevalent in upcoming elections than in 2024, though its ultimate impact remains uncertain.
Texas law prohibits political deepfakes within 30 days of an election, with violations classified as a Class A misdemeanor. However, the current use of AI technology for advertising occurs months before elections, presenting a challenge for voters.
Zelly Martin, an assistant professor of communication at the University of Tampa, notes that the damage from deepfakes and misinformation can be substantial even before legal protections come into play.
The AI ads from Citizens for Sanity have generated significant online engagement, with an estimated 1.4 million impressions on Facebook. These ads often take real statements made by Talarico and present them out of context or exaggerate them.
For instance, one ad shows Talarico in front of a border fence, laying down a welcome mat. This references a real quote where Talarico stated the southern border should have a “giant welcome mat out front, and a lock on the door.” Critics, including his Republican opponent Ken Paxton, have often omitted the “lock on the door” portion to misrepresent his stance.
Another AI-generated ad features two women discussing a new language called “Talarico,” a reference to Talarico’s use of the phrase “neighbors with a uterus” instead of “women” when discussing reproductive health.
The “favorite things” ad misrepresents Talarico’s position on gender-affirming care for minors. While the ad suggests he supports “changing the gender of all your offspring,” Talarico has stated in a June 8 interview that he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors. The claim that Talarico “loves trans children” stems from a remark he made in an August 2023 interview, where he expressed admiration for transgender children who advocated for their humanity at the State Capitol.
Talarico’s campaign has responded to these AI ads, with spokesperson JT Ennis stating, “Ken Paxton and special interests in DC know they can’t rely on facts or defeat our movement to take on the broken, corrupt political system on its merits — so they’re distorting James Talarico’s likeness with AI to fuel their misleading attacks.”
This is not the first time Talarico has been the subject of deepfake videos. In March, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released an ad featuring an AI-generated Talarico reading his own X posts, though the video clips of him speaking were fabricated. Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently posted an image on Facebook that appeared to be an AI-generated depiction of a female version of Talarico.
The increasing use of AI in political advertising marks a shift from the 2024 election cycle, where AI did not play a significant role in spreading misinformation. A November 2025 study indicated that campaigns were initially hesitant to use generative AI due to public perception. However, this attitude is evolving, partly due to the normalization of AI imagery by prominent figures.
Experts like Isabel Linzer, a policy analyst at the Center for Democracy & Technology, suggest that as AI becomes more commonplace in communication from influential figures, its use in campaigns will likely increase.
Martin predicts that candidates will face increased pressure to address false narratives generated by AI, diverting attention from their own campaign messages. As the public is exposed to more AI-generated content, she believes it will become increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish between reality and fabrication.
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