{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","slug":"democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","title":"Democrat Lorena Austin calls deepfake images supporting Andy Biggs '100% not me'","subtitle":"AI-detection systems indicated the images were digitally altered, according to reports.","excerpt":"Images circulating on social media appeared to show Democratic state Rep. Lorena Austin supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs. Austin stated the images were deepfakes, and AI-detection systems indicated they were digitally altered. The images were shared by individuals identified as Turning Point Action managers.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T18:05:13.019Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-09T17:30:36.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-09T18:05:13.019Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":60,"critic":60,"hype":20,"notes":{"trust":"Central claim attributed to named individuals and a campaign spokesperson; AI detection systems cited.","critic":"Reporting includes quotes from affected individuals and campaign spokespersons, and notes what happens next.","hype":"The headline accurately reflects the content of the article, with no sensationalism."}},"tags":["#Deepfakes","#AI","#ArizonaPolitics","#ElectionIntegrity","#LorenaAustin","#AndyBiggs"],"entities":["Lorena Austin","Andy Biggs","Matt Whitmire","Mary Ann Mendoza","Turning Point Action","Drew Sexton"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Democratic state Rep. Lorena Austin stated that images showing her supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs were deepfakes.","AI-detection systems indicated that the images were digitally altered.","The images were shared on X by Matt Whitmire and Mary Ann Mendoza, identified as Turning Point Action managers.","Mendoza stated her post was a joke with humorous intent."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Images circulating on social media over a weekend appeared to show Democratic state Rep. Lorena Austin supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs. Austin stated the images were deepfakes and that she did not consent to their creation. The photos depicted a person resembling Austin holding a campaign sign for Biggs, who is challenging Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Reports noted that some of Austin's tattoos were not accurately represented in the images, and no official campaign titled \"Demócratas por Biggs\" or \"Democrats for Biggs\" exists."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The images were shared on the social media platform X by Matt Whitmire and Mary Ann Mendoza, who are identified as Chase the Vote Managers for Turning Point Action. AI-detection systems used by The Arizona Republic indicated that at least one of the images was digitally altered. Mendoza later stated that her post was a joke with humorous intent. Whitmire and Mendoza have since deleted the images from their X accounts. Biggs' spokesperson Drew Sexton stated the campaign is not responsible for policing what supporters say."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on intent"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Mary Ann Mendoza stated that her post was a joke with humorous intent, saying, \"An open borders radical like Lorena Austin would never stand with a patriot like Andy Biggs, the humorous intent is obvious to competent journalists.\" AZCentral reported that Austin denounced Turning Point Action, believing the group played a role in the posts. Austin told AZCentral, “I think Turning Point is deceitful and dishonest, and this is on par for them.” Turning Point Action did not respond to requests for comment."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated reports mentioned any potential legal action Austin might take regarding the deepfake images, beyond her interest in strengthening AI laws. The Arizona Capitol Times report, while focused on the gubernatorial race between Hobbs and Biggs, did not mention the deepfake images at all."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Joe.My.God.","url":"https://joemygod.com/2026/09/turning-point-posts-fake-photos-in-arizona-gov-race","headline":"Turning Point Posts Fake Photos In Arizona Gov Race","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T17:30:36.000Z"},{"sourceName":"USA Today","url":"https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/09/fact-check-does-democratic-rep-lorena-austin-back-andy-biggs/91664300007","headline":"Arizona Democratic lawmaker says pro-Andy Biggs images are deepfakes","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T12:02:37.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Phoenix New Times","url":"https://phoenixnewtimes.com/news/turning-point-posted-deepfake-rep-lorena-austin-planting-democratas-por-biggs-sign-40696531","headline":"Arizona Democrat eyes lawsuit over Turning Point USA AI deepfakes","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:12:51.000Z"},{"sourceName":"arizonastatelawjournal.org","url":"https://arizonastatelawjournal.org/2024/10/01/the-current-state-of-deepfake-laws-in-arizona","headline":"The Current State of Deepfake Laws in Arizona – Arizona State Law Journal","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:12:51.000Z"},{"sourceName":"AZCentral","url":"https://azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/09/fact-check-does-democratic-rep-lorena-austin-back-andy-biggs/91664300007","headline":"Arizona Democratic lawmaker says pro-Andy Biggs images are deepfakes","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"KJZZ","url":"https://kjzz.org/elections/2026-09-08/turning-point-activists-use-fake-posts-to-claim-democrats-are-backing-biggs-for-arizona-governor","headline":"Turning Point activists use fake posts to claim Democrats are backing Biggs for Arizona governor","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-08T18:06:16.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Arizona Capitol Times","url":"https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/08/04/hobbs-biggs-launch-attack-filled-arizona-governors-race","headline":"Hobbs, Biggs launch attack-filled Arizona governor’s race","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-05T00:20:54.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":100,"centre":0,"right":0},"count":{"left":6,"centre":0,"right":0},"totalSources":7,"untracked":1,"rated":6,"observedAt":"2026-09-09T19:00:24.759046+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-09T19:30:29.208Z","closedAt":null,"checks":6,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["Left-rated reports led on Democratic state Rep. Lorena Austin's assertion that images showing her supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs were deepfakes. These reports stated that AI-detection systems indicated the images were digitally altered. The coverage noted the images were shared on X by Matt Whitmire and Mary Ann Mendoza, identified as Turning Point Action managers. Some reports included Austin's statement that the images were generated without her consent and her criticism of Turning Point Action. Mendoza's statement that her post was a joke was also reported."],"centre":[],"right":[],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"high":4,"unknown":2,"veryHigh":1},"ownershipDistribution":{"mediaConglomerate":4,"other":2},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Arizona Capitol Times","url":"https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/08/04/hobbs-biggs-launch-attack-filled-arizona-governors-race","publishedAt":"2026-08-05T00:20:54.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States","count":3},{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"Arizona Capitol Times","url":"https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/08/04/hobbs-biggs-launch-attack-filled-arizona-governors-race","headline":"Hobbs, Biggs launch attack-filled Arizona governor’s race","publishedAt":"2026-08-05T00:20:54.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"KJZZ","url":"https://kjzz.org/elections/2026-09-08/turning-point-activists-use-fake-posts-to-claim-democrats-are-backing-biggs-for-arizona-governor","headline":"Turning Point activists use fake posts to claim Democrats are backing Biggs for Arizona governor","publishedAt":"2026-09-08T18:06:16.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"veryHigh","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"AZCentral","url":"https://azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/09/fact-check-does-democratic-rep-lorena-austin-back-andy-biggs/91664300007","headline":"Arizona Democratic lawmaker says pro-Andy Biggs images are deepfakes","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Phoenix New Times","url":"https://phoenixnewtimes.com/news/turning-point-posted-deepfake-rep-lorena-austin-planting-democratas-por-biggs-sign-40696531","headline":"Arizona Democrat eyes lawsuit over Turning Point USA AI deepfakes","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:12:51.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"arizonastatelawjournal.org","url":"https://arizonastatelawjournal.org/2024/10/01/the-current-state-of-deepfake-laws-in-arizona","headline":"The Current State of Deepfake Laws in Arizona – Arizona State Law Journal","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T00:12:51.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"USA Today","url":"https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/09/fact-check-does-democratic-rep-lorena-austin-back-andy-biggs/91664300007","headline":"Arizona Democratic lawmaker says pro-Andy Biggs images are deepfakes","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T12:02:37.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"New York, New York, United States","repostedFrom":"AZCentral"},{"name":"Joe.My.God.","url":"https://joemygod.com/2026/09/turning-point-posts-fake-photos-in-arizona-gov-race","headline":"Turning Point Posts Fake Photos In Arizona Gov Race","publishedAt":"2026-09-09T17:30:36.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"left","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null}]},"assessment":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"Democrat Lorena Austin calls deepfake images supporting Andy Biggs '100% not me'\", https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/politics/democrat-lorena-austin-calls-deepfake-images-supporting-andy-biggs-100-not-me.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}