Ashley Webb, a transgender and intersex Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has become the subject of scrutiny after it was revealed she used an artificial intelligence-generated image in promotional material for her memoir. The image, which depicts a significantly younger and altered version of Webb, was used to promote her book, titled 'I Am Ashley.'
Webb, who is running to succeed Graham Platner after his Senate bid ended amid sexual assault allegations, participated in a debate hosted by News Center Maine on Thursday night. It was following this event that social media users identified the memoir and its promotional image.
During the debate, when questioned about her qualifications for the Senate, Webb highlighted her previous attempts to run for office, her work as a songwriter, and her authorship. "I am a songwriter, I write my own books and suppose my transparency I wouldn't lie to the people and I wouldn't deceive the people," Webb stated. "I’m just an angry citizen now, and if I got elected, I’d be an angry senator, and I think that would probably be their worst nightmare."
Webb's campaign, operating under the name 'Ashley Webb: Take No Prisoners,' emphasizes her platform on healthcare reform, workers' rights, corporate accountability, and rural infrastructure. She has also expressed opposition to U.S. taxpayer money being sent to Israel, stating, "I'll always stand against occupation and unjustified military aggression."
Webb has authored two books, her memoir and a cookbook featuring meals under 600 calories. Her campaign website links to a YouTube page that includes music apparently created by Webb using AI tools, some of which reference political figures.
As an openly trans and intersex woman, Webb has stated her campaign will focus on ensuring representation for all Mainers, regardless of political affiliation or background. "As an openly trans and intersex woman, I know what it means to be told to wait, to be quieter, to let someone else speak for you," her campaign literature reads. "I won’t do that in this campaign, and I won’t do it in the Senate."