After AI “Debate,” Ghazala Hashmi Slams Opponent’s Tactics In VA Race

India-West News Desk

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — After an unprecedented AI-driven “debate” nine days before the election, Democratic candidate State Senator Ghazala Hashmi has spoken out, sharply criticizing Republican opponent John Reid’s use of artificial intelligence to simulate her in a 40-minute YouTube video.

Hashmi’s campaign confirmed they had declined to participate in a debate with Reid and emphasized that the AI video used her likeness and voice without permission. They argued the simulation misrepresented her actual positions and statements.

In an interview with WUSA9, Hashmi condemned Reid’s approach and rhetoric. “He has shown himself to be an extremist in his views,” she said. “His rhetoric against me has been xenophobic as well as Islamophobic,” adding that it echoes language often associated with former President Donald Trump.

Hashmi outlined stark policy differences between herself and Reid. “He’s said he wants to close every public school in Virginia. He’s compared abortion access to slavery. And despite being an openly gay man, he has said he doesn’t stand up for marriage equality,” she told WUSA9.

Reid defended his AI experiment on October 25. “If you’re not going to do a debate, then I’ll give you a fair shake,” he told WUSA9. “We’ll use quotes from you, and I’ll show up without a script or teleprompter and just put up the same information that was responded to about her.”