U.S. lawmakers flag Russian meddling aimed at Ukraine-backing candidates
Two Democratic U.S. lawmakers said a classified briefing showed Russia running a covert online campaign against candidates who support Ukraine ahead of the midterm elections. They said the effort seeks to erode trust in U.S. elections and create chaos, with artificial intelligence making targeting more effective. Candidates in Georgia and Texas were cited as particular targets of AI-generated ads.
Lawmakers Mark Warner and Jim Himes said the Oct. 21 briefing, delivered by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, linked Moscow to an online effort aimed at candidates from both parties who back Kyiv. They described social-media messaging meant to cast doubt on election integrity and foster disorder, with AI tools sharpening targeting.
Warner singled out Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and Texas Senate contender James Talarico as frequent subjects of synthetic ads. Researchers cited by NBC News said recent AI videos about Talarico, appearing after Texas early voting started, probably came from a Kremlin-linked operation.
The reported campaign could deepen public uncertainty about election fairness, especially among voters exposed to synthetic political ads. Candidates backing Ukraine may face added pressure and misinformation, while platforms and election officials could be stretched to detect and explain manipulated content. Because AI can lower the cost of targeting, the effects may extend beyond the named races, potentially shaping how Americans view foreign policy debates and democratic processes.