A new report from the Wesleyan Media Project has revealed that spending on AI-generated campaign ads has surged to more than $137 million ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, a dramatic increase from less than $50,000 in the 2024 cycle. The study, which tracked over 220 campaign videos made at least partly with AI, found that Republican campaigns or political action committees were responsible for 81 percent of the ads and 88 percent of the spending. Researchers and candidates alike have raised concerns about the lack of disclosure, with more than 70 percent of AI ads containing no disclaimer that they were generated by artificial intelligence.
organisation
Wesleyan Media Project
Research project at Wesleyan University that monitors political advertising