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."
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.