AI Deepfakes in Wisconsin Elections | Milwaukee News

Milwaukee News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 1m

In Wisconsin’s most heated congressional race, Rep. Derrick Van Orden unleashed AI-generated deepfakes—featuring a fake version of his opponent, Rebecca Cooke, declaring herself “the Anointed One”—as a weaponized smear tactic. While state law mandates disclosure for AI in ads, it doesn’t cover social media, leaving a dangerous regulatory gap. Cooke demands stricter rules, calling the deception “nasty mudslinging” and pushing for legal guardrails. As similar AI tactics surface across Tennessee, Kentucky, and Oregon, experts warn voters risk losing trust in all information—if truth can’t be…