The political landscape in Santa Barbara County has taken a contentious turn as local legislators condemned an AI-generated attack ad targeting Fifth District Supervisor candidate Ricardo Valencia. The joint statement issued on Saturday by prominent figures, including Rep. Salud Carbajal and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, strongly criticized the use of “racist caricatures” and deceptive content designed to incite division.
According to their statement, “There is no place in our community for the use of racist caricatures, disinformation, or deceptive AI-generated content designed to inflame division and demean candidates based on their background or identity.” The lawmakers emphasized that such tactics undermine public trust and poison civic discourse.
The controversial ad, created by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, portrayed Valencia as a clown amid scenes of urban strife, including theft and homelessness. Accompanied by a voiceover in a stereotypical Latino accent, the ad accused him of merely “talking” about issues without taking action. Despite this inflammatory messaging, Valencia currently leads in fundraising for his campaign against Cory Bantilan—chief of staff to the outgoing supervisor—and Santa Maria City Council member Maribel Aguilera.
While the Republican Party has yet to officially endorse a candidate, its website explicitly urges voters to avoid voting for either Valencia or Bantilan. This unusual position has raised eyebrows, with the party claiming to be experimenting with AI content rather than engaging in blatant racism, as asserted by Bobbi McGinnis, chair of the county Republican Party.
In their statement, legislators insisted that campaigns should focus on “debating ideas, proposals, and qualifications,” rather than resorting to “hateful and misleading attacks.” They also called for a political discourse grounded in the values of respect and integrity that true leaders should embody.
<p“As a diverse community, Santa Barbara County is strengthened through its variety,” the lawmakers remarked. “Our public discourse should reflect the values of respect, integrity, and decency that our residents expect from their leaders.”
As the June 2 primary approaches, the tension surrounding the campaign is palpable. The top two candidates will advance to the November election, making the stakes ever higher for all involved.
For further details, you can read the original report on [News Press](https://www.newspress.com/2026/05/23/three-lawmakers-blast-republican-partys-ai-generated-attack-ad-against-supervisorial-candidate-ricardo-valencia/).
