Ohio voters in 2026 have no way to know if a political video they're watching actually happened and is trustworthy — or was made by artificial intelligence.

The Ohio Republican Party recently released an AI-generated video depicting Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton in a fake game show scenario that never took place. A PAC supporting Sen. Jon Husted aired an attack ad against his opponent that appeared to be AI-made. As AI tools become cheaper and easier to use, experts warn this kind of content will only grow between now and November.

Ohio House Bill 185 would require political ads that use AI-generated content — including deepfakes — to carry clear disclaimers, so voters know exactly what they're looking at before forming an opinion. It's a commonsense step.

"People need to know if those videos or pictures actually happened so they can make informed decisions on the reality around them," said Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, who co-sponsored the legislation.

Twenty-seven other states have already passed similar disclosure laws. Ohio should be next.

We urge the Ohio General Assembly and Governor Mike DeWine to pass and sign House Bill 185 before the November 2026 election. Ohio voters deserve to know what's real.