Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is 74 and running for governor, has drawn ridicule for an AI-generated clip of herself mouthing Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us". The 12-second video went up on X on 13 October to mark the start of early voting, and its caption said she was ready to roll the next day. Other Tennessee Republicans appear as her backup dancers, a nod to Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show.
“When I say please stop using AI to support our campaign, this is what I mean...”
Jerri Green, Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial nominee, on X · kmph.com ↗
Among those shown are Rep. Tim Burchett, Sen. Bill Hagerty, state Sen. Brent Taylor and former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who is dressed as his WWE character Kane. Blackburn says a county commissioner made the clip and Burchett reposted it before her own account did. She called it a bit of fun, urged people to vote, and spoke about it to local station WZTV and to The Daily Wire after casting her early ballot in Brentwood.
Lead image on The Daily Wire's report of Blackburn's response
Image: The Daily Wire
Reaction was sharp. Democratic nominee Jerri Green said it was exactly the kind of AI use she had in mind when she asked supporters not to use the technology for her campaign. Critics including Adam Kinzinger and The Tennessee Holler mocked it, and some accused the campaign of borrowing Black culture for political gain. Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Republican.
The choice of song has its own history. Lamar performed it at the 2025 halftime show, which right-wing commentators such as Sean Hannity criticised. Drake's defamation suit against Universal Music over the track was dismissed last year, and Second Circuit arguments on his appeal are set for 4 December. Blackburn herself has pushed for AI guardrails, though Sen. Ted Cruz blocked her attempt last month to pass the NO FAKES Act on deepfakes.
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