A Wesleyan University research group released an analysis on October 16, 2026, counting 220 midterm ads that used AI-generated imagery, 18 days before the midterms. More than 80 percent came from Republicans or GOP-backing groups, and the ads range from small edits to deepfakes of Democratic figures. Reporting since has put nearly $140 million in candidate and PAC spending behind those ads, and more than 70 percent carry no disclaimer. The discussion turns on the absence of disclosure rules in 20 states and how much AI messaging remains undisclosed.