Russia's AI Election Meddling Targets Iowa Candidate Ahead of Midterms

Russian operatives have launched a fresh covert influence campaign aimed at American voters ahead of the November midterm elections, and one Iowa candidate is directly in their crosshairs. U.S. intelligence officials say Moscow is using artificial intelligence to produce convincing fake videos and political material designed to deepen divisions and undermine trust in the democratic process.

Democratic Senate candidate Joshua Turek of Iowa is among at least nine Democratic candidates targeted by the Kremlin-linked operation, according to researchers tracking the disinformation campaign. The fabricated content includes allegations involving corruption, antisemitism, and gay and transgender rights.

What is Russia's alleged election operation?

Recent classified U.S. intelligence assessments concluded that Moscow authorized a new digital influence operation targeting Americans, according to officials familiar with the intelligence who spoke to The New York Times. The operation follows tactics Russia has used in previous U.S. elections, but officials say artificial intelligence now plays a growing role in producing convincing fake videos, images, and political material.

U.S. officials said there is no evidence Russia is trying to compromise voting machines or interfere with the casting or counting of ballots. Instead, the apparent focus is on influencing what Americans see and believe online as voters prepare to decide control of Congress.

Some officials said the broader Russian objective appears to be creating chaos and deepening political divisions rather than helping a particular party. However, recent examples independently attributed to Russian-linked operators have focused on Democratic candidates in competitive races.

Iowa candidate Joshua Turek targeted by fake content

Turek, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, is among the political figures targeted by the operation. Other targeted candidates include Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff in Georgia, Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Troy Jackson in Maine, Chris Pappas in New Hampshire, Mary Peltola in Alaska, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and James Talarico in Texas.

Researchers have linked the campaign to a Kremlin-associated influence operation known as Operation Overload, or Matryoshka. The operation has previously been associated with impersonating established media organizations and distributing fabricated content through social media.

Fake videos impersonate celebrities and news outlets

One fabricated video falsely portrayed Hollywood actor Jamie Lee Curtis as criticizing Democrats over transgender issues. “There's not even a scintilla of truth in that,” her publicist Heidi Schaeffer told The New York Times.

The fake post had been viewed nearly 200,000 times on X by the end of Thursday, according to the platform's public view count. Other fabricated videos were designed to look like reports from CNN, the BBC, and The New York Times, giving false or unsubstantiated claims the appearance of legitimate news coverage.

Graphika, a company that analyzes online threats, attributed the latest activity to the Kremlin-linked operation. Researchers in Europe and the U.S. identified two waves of activity over the past week on platforms including X and Bluesky.

“We're definitely expecting it to ramp up,” Graphika senior researcher Jean Le Roux told The New York Times. “I don't think they're going to stop. I think that we're seeing the initial kickoff of the US election focused campaigning.”

Echoes of 2016 Russian interference

The latest allegations recall Russia's interference operation during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a broad influence campaign intended to damage Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and improve Republican Donald Trump's electoral prospects. Those findings were later supported by an investigation by the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee.

Declassified U.S. intelligence assessments have subsequently concluded that Moscow conducted online influence operations during every U.S. federal election cycle that followed.

Officials cited by The New York Times said this year's effort appeared less extensive and coordinated than some previous Russian campaigns. They said Russia traditionally places greater importance on presidential elections than midterm contests and is also focused on its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russia has historically denied U.S. accusations that it interferes in American elections.

China and Iran also under scrutiny

Russia is not the only foreign power being monitored by U.S. officials. China is also being watched for possible attempts to influence individual congressional races or target lawmakers it considers hostile to Chinese interests.

U.S. officials said Beijing could ultimately decide against such an operation because of the potential consequences if it were exposed. They described China as generally more cautious about detection than Russia or Iran.

Iran has also been identified as a potential source of election interference, although officials said relatively little activity linked to Tehran had been documented so far. Previous U.S. intelligence findings said Iran sought to spread propaganda aimed at undermining Trump during the 2020 and 2024 presidential election cycles.

Meta said last month that it had identified a small network of Facebook and Instagram accounts originating in Iran that focused on U.S. politics. Some of the material had been generated using artificial intelligence and included what Meta described as “anti-Republican views.”

AI raises new concerns beyond elections

The growing use of artificial intelligence has become an additional concern for U.S. officials dealing with foreign influence operations. AI tools can allow disinformation networks to produce convincing videos, images, and political material at speed, including content impersonating celebrities and trusted news organizations.

The technology has also raised concerns beyond election interference. CNN reported on Friday that an AI-assisted intelligence analysis nearly led U.S. forces to intercept and board a Chinese vessel in the Middle East earlier this year. A U.S. special operations analyst had used an AI chatbot to examine the ship's manifest. The system incorrectly assessed its cargo as containing components connected to a nuclear weapons program, according to CNN.

What Iowa voters should know

As Iowans prepare to cast their ballots in November, election officials emphasize that voting systems remain secure and that foreign actors have not compromised the integrity of the vote itself. The threat lies in the information voters encounter online.

Voters are encouraged to verify information from trusted sources, be skeptical of sensational claims shared on social media, and report suspicious content to election officials. The Iowa Secretary of State's office maintains resources for voters to check their registration status and find official election information.

This article is based on reporting from The New York Times and CNN.