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yesterday

Maryland Democrats Run Ads in GOP Primary as AI Image Prompts Deepfake Law Scrutiny

The paid interventions aim to influence which Republican emerges as the November opponent while an AI-generated image raises legal and ethical questions under a new state ban on political deepfakes.

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Republican candidates Dan Cox, left, a former state delegate, and Ed Hale Sr., the owner of the Baltimore Blast and a retired banker.
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Still images from a pair of video ads from incumbent Gov. Wes Moore’s campaign against Republican candidates Ed Hale, left, and Dan Cox are running on Fox News and Facebook.

Overview

  • Mid-June video ads and a party mailer paid by Gov. Wes Moore’s campaign and the Maryland Democratic Party portray Dan Cox as closely aligned with President Trump and call Ed Hale an untrustworthy party-switcher to influence GOP primary voters.
  • Republican candidates and officials have denounced the ads as improper interference, arguing Democrats are trying to shape the Republican nominee the party will face in November.
  • The Hale campaign posted an AI-assisted image showing Moore and Cox embracing, which Hale’s team calls satire and Cox’s campaign calls a deceptive deepfake, creating a legal risk under Maryland’s deepfake law that took effect June 1.
  • Moore’s campaign holds a large cash advantage, reporting more than $7 million on hand compared with less than $100,000 combined for Hale and Cox, enabling broad buys on Fox News, Facebook, and mailers.
  • The tactic echoes a 2022 ‘pied piper’ playbook that helped Moore in the last cycle but carries reputational and tactical risks, and the dispute will play out as early voting ends June 18 and the primary is set for June 23.