# FactCheck's 2026 election ad awards > FactCheck.org hands out tongue-in-cheek awards for the strangest political ads of the 2026 midterms, from fortune cookie smashing to AI-generated deepfakes. - Title: FactCheck's 2026 election ad awards · FactCheck.org | Shortify - Summary: FactCheck.org hands out tongue-in-cheek awards for the strangest political ads of the 2026 midterms, from fortune cookie smashing to AI-generated deepfakes… - Keywords: factcheck.org, 2026 midterms, political advertising, election ads, ai in politics, campaign strategy, fact check - Source: FactCheck.org — https://factcheck.org/2026/11/the-2026-factcheck-awards - Author: D'Angelo Gore, Paul Cuno-Booth, Jessica McDonald - Published: 2026-11-03T16:58:12+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: factcheck.org, 2026 midterms, political advertising, election ads, ai in politics, campaign strategy, politics, fact check ## FactCheck's annual ad awards FactCheck.org has given out pretend awards for notable campaign ads on Election Day for 20 years, just for fun. This year's winners span national, state and local races. ## Toughest on China Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican candidate for Tennessee governor, showed her China strategy by smashing fortune cookies in a Chinese restaurant. She said Tennessee would stop communist China and protect Tennessee land. > Here in Tennessee, we're going to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land. ## Cutest Pasta Wisconsin state Rep. Steve Doyle, a Democrat running for reelection, warned voters about politicians using emotional appeals like pictures of babies. He then held an adorable alpaca named Pasta while making his pitch. > Have you noticed how politicians prey on emotions to influence voters? ## The John Stockton Award for Assists The Wesleyan Media Project found one hundred thirty-seven million dollars was spent on two hundred twenty ads featuring AI-generated or enhanced content through October eleventh. That's up from virtually nothing in twenty twenty-four. ## AI ads dominate 2026 Republicans used AI technology more than Democrats when producing ads this cycle. An AI-assisted Republican ad showed an AI version of Democrat Sherrod Brown overstaying his welcome at a birthday party. ## AI ads lack disclosure Wesleyan said most AI-assisted ads do not even mention being made with artificial intelligence, leaving viewers to figure it out themselves. Some AI ads prompted cease-and-desist letters from targeted candidates. ## The Best Worst Facial Hair Democrat Charly Ray, running for state Senate in Wisconsin, embraced voter reaction to his large, unruly eyebrows. He used them as policy metaphors, saying they had very little oversight like data centers. > Like data centers, they've had very little oversight. Like our schools, maintenance has been underfunded. ## Eyebrows and comparisons Ray's ad flashed a photo of Republican U.S. House candidate Michael Alfonso, son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, whose well-coiffed brows have drawn comparisons to Bert the Muppet. ## Worst Romance Plotline Steve Hilton, a Republican running for governor in California, aired an ad showing two young women on a bed with suggestive dialogue about filling out a ballot for him. > Just try it! Steve Hilton for Governor. ## Hilton defends the ad A state superintendent candidate called Hilton's ad weird, creepy and disturbing garbage. Hilton defended the ad but asked for some grace, saying he was saddened that he had upset anyone. ## Barn Dancing with the Stars Democrat Jamie Ager, running for U.S. House in western North Carolina, said Washington needs more barn dances. His ad showed people dancing while he discussed investing in western North Carolina and recovery from Hurricane Helene. > Do you know what we need more of in Washington, D.C.? Barn Dances! ## Worst Sense of Direction Defending Main Street PAC aired an ad attacking Democrat Troy Jackson in Portland, Maine, but the ad ended up briefly airing in Portland, Oregon instead. The super PAC blamed its advertising vendor, Cross Screen Media. > During a recent independent expenditure, our media vendor mistakenly placed approximately $25,000 in digital advertising in the Portland, Oregon media market instead of Portland, Maine. ## The Eye Spy Award BJ Wyrick, nonpartisan vice mayor running for mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, posted an ad warning residents the city is watching them with thousands of cameras. The ad featured glossy eyeballs of different sizes. ## The True Blood Award for Glamouring President Donald Trump appeared in a black and white video doing a model walk down a hallway while staring intensely into the camera for nearly thirty seconds. > we will demolish the deep state, expel the warmongers from our government, drive out the globalists, and cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists. ## White House's campaign message The White House tried to convince critics that Trump's taxpayer-funded message was a public service announcement rather than a campaign ad. Trump kept telling voters to pretend he is on the ballot. ## Key takeaway FactCheck.org gave out pretend awards for notable campaign ads from the 2026 midterms, highlighting bizarre moments from national, state and local races.