Political Groups Spend $137 Million On AI-Driven Advertising

Over $137 million has been spent on AI-generated ads by campaigns and political groups during this election cycle, a new high, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, Campaigns & Elections reports. This is up from the $50,000 reported by the Wesleyan Media Project in 2024. But the new total may be an undercount, given than only 30 states require a disclaimer when AI is utilized in political ads. A separate study by the American Association of Political Consultants stated that 83% of political pros usesd AI tools once a week or more, compared to 59% in the prior year.

Last updated Oct 19, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment