Blakeman's AI-generated "Hochul" campaign ads
Blakeman's campaign has run a series of AI-generated ads depicting Kathy Hochul, culminating in a minute-long July 7 video in which a deepfake Hochul delivers a fictional "confession" on taxes, tolls and bail. City & State reported in May that an earlier AI video may have violated New York's disclosure law for AI-generated political content; the campaign says the ads are satire, which it argues is exempt, and notes a small "AI" label on the video. Blakeman defended the practice on NY1 on July 9. Hochul's campaign dubbed him "Bruce (Deep) Fakeman." UPDATE (Jul 22, 2026): Blakeman continued defending the AI ads on ABC7 — "you gotta use every tool in the toolbox," calling them satire in the tradition of late-night comedy; a Hochul campaign spokesman called the ads "straight up lying." UPDATE (Aug 10, 2026): State Democratic Committee chair Jay Jacobs filed a formal complaint with the State Board of Elections alleging the ads violate the 2026 election law requiring political communications containing "materially deceptive media" to disclose that the content "has been manipulated." Blakeman again called the ads satire and accused Democrats of trying to cheat. Complaint pending before the BOE. https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2026/08/11/democrats-blakeman-ai-depictions- UPDATE (Sept 2, 2026): City & State reported the campaign has moved from AI video to mail: official-looking "memorandum of tax assessment" letters sent to NYC homeowners saying "according to our records" they own a second property subject to the pied-à-terre tax, paired with a $50+ donation ask. The package carries "Not official government business" and a "Paid for by Blakeman for New York" disclosure; at least one recipient couple owns only their primary home. The campaign did not say how addresses were chosen; the likely source is the ~950,000-address DOF list Blakeman had criticized the city for releasing. Election lawyer Sarah Steiner: "manipulative scaremongering" but not illegal. https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/09/blakeman-sends-fake-pied-terre-letters-campaign-stunt/415790/
The case on each side
Blakeman says the ads are clearly labeled satire protected by the satire exemption, and a legitimate way to communicate his criticisms of Hochul's record.
Critics and Hochul's campaign say deepfaking a real opponent to put fabricated words in her mouth is deceptive and may violate New York's AI-disclosure requirements for political ads.