AI deepfake ad targets Minnesota lieutenant governor

North Star Dawn PAC aired an AI-generated television ad that uses a synthetic image of Minnesota Lt. Gov. Penny Flanagan standing on a pile of cash. The spot, posted June 3, criticizes Flanagan’s alleged ties to special interest groups. Flanagan’s campaign has said it is consulting lawyers to determine whether the ad violates state law.

Flanagan posted on BlueSky, “My opponent’s super PAC is using an AI deepfake of me to mislead voters. They can’t win with the truth – so they’re resorting to lies.” She added, “It’s disgusting. Minnesotans deserve better.”

Minnesota’s 2023 law makes it a crime to widely distribute an AI-generated deepfake within 90 days of an election when the distributor knew or should have known the content was fabricated and acted with the intent to harm a candidate’s reputation to influence the vote. The ad ran after the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party nominated Flanagan, so timing could affect whether the 90-day criminal window applies.

Maye Quade, the state representative who sponsored the 2023 bill, told local reporters the spot violated the spirit of the statute and said voters generally dislike the use of AI in that way. Forty DFL state legislators sent a letter condemning the use of AI deepfakes in campaign materials and urging enforcement of the state’s ban. North Star Dawn PAC did not respond to requests for comment.

About 30 states have enacted laws addressing AI use in elections. Most of those laws require disclosure and impose civil penalties for violations. Minnesota’s statute is among the few that establishes criminal liability under defined conditions.

At the federal level, campaign rules require clear disclaimers on certain public communications and prohibit fraudulent misrepresentation. The Federal Election Commission declined a petition for new AI-specific rules in 2023, referencing existing statutes that apply across technologies.

Mark Jablonowski, chief executive of an advertising firm, predicted most campaigns will avoid deceptive AI tactics while acknowledging there will be exceptions. Campaigns and outside groups using synthetic media face legal and disclosure questions as election advertising increases. Legal reviews and any enforcement actions in the coming weeks will determine whether the Minnesota ad violates the state’s law.