Supporters of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt released a viral AI-generated advertisement depicting him as a savior and Mayor Karen Bass as Darth Vader [1].
The use of generative AI to create hyper-realistic political caricatures represents a shift in campaign tactics, using pop-culture imagery to influence voter perception of incumbent officials.
The video portrays Pratt as a Jedi-like figure tasked with rescuing the city [1]. In contrast, the advertisement casts Mayor Bass as an AI-generated super-villain, specifically using the likeness of the Star Wars antagonist Darth Vader [2]. Some reports indicate the ad also depicts Governor Gavin Newsom as a super-villain [3].
Rita Panahi of Sky News Australia said the Spencer Pratt campaign to be Mayor of LA got another boost when supporters put together the ad [1]. Panahi said that Pratt seems to be closing the gap very quickly with the incumbent Karen Bass [1].
Conservatives have described the production as the best political ad of the year [3]. The content blends elements of superhero cinema and science fiction to frame the political contest as a battle between a savior and a villain [3].
These AI-generated visuals are designed to create momentum for Pratt by simplifying complex political grievances into a visual narrative of good versus evil. By utilizing high-profile imagery, the campaign seeks to capture attention in a crowded digital landscape where traditional political messaging often struggles to gain viral traction [1], [2].
The ad was released in 2024 as part of the effort to elevate Pratt's profile within the Los Angeles mayoral race [2], [3].
“The video casts Newsom and Karen Bass as supervillains and Pratt as the savior of L.A.”
The emergence of high-production AI ads in local elections signals a move toward 'entertainment-based' campaigning. By replacing policy debates with cinematic archetypes, candidates can bypass traditional political discourse to trigger emotional responses from voters, though this also raises concerns regarding the proliferation of synthetic media in democratic processes.
