GOP Lt. Gov. candidate uses AI to debate Democratic rival who rejected debate offers
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Conservative businessman and broadcaster John Reid enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to represent Democratic challenger Ghazala Hashmi in a mock debate for the 2025 lieutenant governor race.
Reid, the Republican candidate from Richmond, challenged Hashmi, the state senator from Chesterfield, in a series of regional debates around Virginia. Reid noted that Hashmi was the only candidate among the six candidates running for statewide office who refused to debate.
A representative for Reid provided that the AI merely predicted the likeness and voice of Hashmi and the moderator, and that the responses provided by Hashmi’s representative were based on his previous quotes or publicly stated policy positions.
Hashmi’s campaign called the video a “deepfake” and told the Washington Post that it was “a desperate move straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook.”
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Virginia lieutenant governor candidates John Reid (left); Gazala Hashmi, that’s right. (Lyra Bordelon / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images; Bill O’Leary/Getty Images)
“While we appreciate that he shares ‘AI Ghazala’s vision, such as his commitment to public education and reproductive rights, it’s pretty clear that Reid only cares about sleazy gimmicks, not governing.”
The AI debate differed from other artificially created videos, in which MPs’ words and representations were in some cases caricatured.
President Donald Trump shared a viral AI video earlier this month showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) wearing a sombrero shaped like “La Cucaracha” in the background, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (DY) referred to his party as “woke s—.” Schumer has never said this line in real life.
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In his opening remarks at the debate, ‘AI Hashmi’ said he was running because Virginians needed “someone with the experience, knowledge and ability to fight for Virginians.”
“I have a background in addressing issues that Virginians care about: education, health, housing and opportunity. I’m ready to make policies that will set Virginia as an example to other states.”
In response, Reid stated that – in real life – Hashmi would not participate in a real debate.
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“If he’s not willing to campaign for himself on behalf of the government, I don’t know why anyone would think he could fight for anything…” he said.
Reid said Hashmi supports keeping Virginia schools closed for another year after the coronavirus pandemic and is “pressing to do so.”[ed] higher taxes for boys in girls sports [and] Release criminals early.”
“Everything we define as a problem in the state of Virginia was forced by Ghazala Hashmi,” he said.
In that vein, Reid said his work in communications in Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and radio has helped him understand what businesses need from the state government if they choose to operate in Virginia.
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Reid said the lieutenant governor’s office “isn’t just about rattling around the Senate.” “[It is] I work for the state of Virginia.”
