The First AI Election: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping US Politics

The 2026 US midterm election is the first where artificial intelligence has touched nearly every aspect of the democratic process, from campaign ads to voter information, making AI itself a dominant campaign issue. AI-generated images and videos are flooding political feeds, with over 80 percent of such ads coming from Republican-aligned groups, while millions of voters now use chatbots for political guidance, prompting campaigns to adapt their strategies. The technology is also reshaping campaign operations, with 83 percent of political consultants using AI weekly, while public skepticism about AI's societal impact, including data center growth, is becoming a litmus test for candidates.