HOUSTON — The Democratic candidate for Texas lieutenant governor filed a police report Saturday accusing the Republican incumbent, Dan Patrick, of violating a state law prohibiting the use of deepfake videos of political candidates near an election. The complaint centers on two advertisements released earlier this month that used artificial intelligence-generated videos depicting Democratic candidate Vikki Goodwin appearing to speak words she never uttered.

Goodwin, a state representative from the Austin area, submitted an affidavit alongside the police report stating that although the person shown in the videos resembles her, the footage was not authentic. “This outrageous behavior by an elected official is criminal,” she said in the affidavit, characterizing the videos as a deliberate and unlawful misrepresentation.

The ads in question were posted on Patrick’s social media accounts during the first two weeks of September, more than 30 days before the November election. Texas law, enacted in 2019, prohibits the use of AI-generated deepfakes of candidates within 30 days of an election, aiming to curb misinformation that could influence voters. Goodwin argues in her filing that the videos remain accessible during the early voting period, which starts within 30 days of the election, thus violating the statute.

Allen Blakemore, a spokesperson for Patrick’s campaign, described the videos as “an obvious parody produced to entertain,” asserting that no reasonable viewer would interpret them as genuine. He also stated that none of the material has been published or distributed within the legally restricted 30-day window before the election.

The use of AI technology to create attack ads has become increasingly common during the 2026 midterm election cycle nationwide, though criminal complaints involving such tactics remain rare. It is unclear whether authorities in Austin will initiate an investigation based on Goodwin’s report or how the law’s provisions will be applied in this context.

As of now, neither the Austin Police Department nor other local officials have indicated if they will take further action regarding the complaint. The case highlights ongoing questions about the regulation and ethical use of emerging AI tools in political campaigning.