Scott Wiener Pulls Parody Chatbot Days After Backlash in Pelosi House Race

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 20

Scott Wiener removed and apologized for a parody chatbot targeting fellow Democrat Connie Chan after it drew swift blowback in the race to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi and her allies denounced the bot as sexist and rooted in harmful racial tropes, turning a mockery tactic into a liability for the California state senator.
The episode adds to a string of high-profile California AI campaign flops: Matt Mahan hired an AI director and won less than 4% in June's gubernatorial primary, while Spencer Pratt's AI-heavy LA mayor bid finished third.
Democratic strategists say AI is finding more traction in cheaper down-ballot races, where tools such as low-cost ad generation can help cash-strapped candidates experiment.
Even backers who see 2026 as unlikely to be an AI breakthrough argue Democrats must keep testing the technology ahead of what they expect could be an 'AI election' in 2028.