Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke has fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) over AI-generated campaign ads she says falsely depict her making statements, a move that escalates an already bitter contest for a competitive House seat.
The letter, shared by Cooke on social media, accuses Van Orden's campaign of airing deepfake videos that "undermine our democratic process" and constitute "the exact kind of mudslinging voters are tired of." Cooke's attorney wrote that the ads "falsely convey that Ms. Cooke has made particular statements" and were posted "for the patently obvious purpose of harming Ms. Cooke's reputation for your own political advantage."
Van Orden responded on social media with another AI-generated video depicting Cooke as a red bird wearing a Democratic Socialists of America shirt. His other ads have targeted Cooke's financial disclosures, which revealed she earned additional income as a political consultant alongside her waitressing job.
"Rebecca Cooke is embarrassing herself because she got busted lying again and is now trying to cover it up," Van Orden's campaign said in a statement to local outlet WEAU. "The only thing Cooke is really concerned about is that people are finally getting to see her for what she is: an untrustworthy political hack who is willing to say or do anything for power."
The legal threat comes amid a broader national debate over AI's role in political advertising. Earlier this year, a musician sent a cease-and-desist to the White House over a Trump ad using his song, and Senate Democrats have pushed for an AI safety panel, though Republicans have blocked it. The issue has also surfaced in other races, as Democratic groups deploy targeted ads in key contests.
Wisconsin law makes it illegal for anyone "with knowledge that it is false" to publicize "any false and unauthorized advertisement." Whether Van Orden's ads violate that statute remains unclear, but Cooke's letter argues that Wisconsin's common law of defamation "fills the gaps" left by statutory protections.
The race between Van Orden and Cooke is rated a "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report. Cooke lost to Van Orden in 2024 by just over 11,000 votes, but Democrats are now focusing on the incumbent's ties to President Trump. Trump's approval has dipped amid his tariff war with Canada, Wisconsin's largest trading partner, and Democrats have also highlighted Van Orden's presence at the rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
As the campaign heats up, the AI deepfake controversy could become a defining issue. Democrats are hoping to capitalize on broader political momentum, and Cooke's team is portraying Van Orden's tactics as a desperate measure. Meanwhile, Republicans see the seat as a pickup opportunity, making the outcome crucial for control of the House.
Neither campaign has indicated a willingness to back down, setting the stage for a contentious legal and political battle in the weeks ahead.
