Deepfakes are no longer a “what if.” They’re here, and campaigns that don’t plan for them are putting themselves at risk.
From AI-generated robocalls in New Hampshire that mimicked Joe Biden’s voice to a viral video that impersonated Sen. Amy Klobuchar with vulgar language, manipulated media has already crossed into U.S. politics. Experts warn the 2026 cycle could see a flood of such attacks and campaigns need to be prepared.
Why Deepfakes Are a Campaign Threat
Deepfakes used to be glitchy. Odd skin tones and extra fingers gave them away. Today’s tools are cheap, accessible, and frighteningly convincing. That’s why a manipulated clip of your candidate swearing in front of school children or “admitting” to corruption could spread online before your campaign has the opportunity to respond.
In an era when voters are already drowning in fragmented media, one believable fake can cause real damage.
Develop an Emergency Protocol
If a deepfake drops on your campaign, what’s your first move? Who verifies the content? Who alerts the press? Who posts the response? Build that playbook now. Time is everything when misinformation spreads at algorithmic speed.
Strengthen Your Digital Presence
Campaigns with little online footprint are the easiest targets since there’s nothing to compare to the deepfake. Unauthorized synthetic media can easily fill the vacuum left by an inactive campaign.
Maintain a steady flow of authentic, candidate-voiced content. Voters who hear from you often are more likely to recognize what sounds off. Inoculate your campaign by building familiarity before the disinformation lands.
Build Rapid Response Channels
Don’t wait until you’re under fire to realize your campaign can’t reach supporters quickly. Make sure you have tested email, SMS, and social pipelines ready to distribute verified video, audio, or written statements at a moment’s notice.
Secure Relationships With Platforms
Most major platforms have policies against AI-generated political disinformation. But enforcement often depends on who asks. Campaigns that already have contacts inside platforms—or staff who know how to navigate reporting channels—can get harmful content pulled faster.
Conclusion
Deepfakes are a communications challenge, not just a tech one. Campaigns that assume “we’ll deal with it if it happens” are setting themselves up for failure.
The best defense is a strong offense that ensures trustworthy content is regularly available and your rapid response engine is primed. We were fortunate in 2024 that deepfakes were not an issue, but we may not be so lucky in 2026.