The campaign of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has filed formal ethics complaints following the discovery of an artificial intelligence-generated phone system designed to impersonate the candidate. The legal action, filed Monday with both the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, targets Thrive LA PAC, a conservative-leaning super PAC that has endorsed Mayor Karen Bass.
The controversy centers on a series of signs placed throughout Los Angeles advertising “Nithya Raman Realty.” When voters call the listed number, they are greeted by an AI-generated voice that identifies as Raman. The recording begins with a standard automated disclaimer stating that the call is being recorded for quality and training purposes. However, the AI-generated persona then proceeds to deliver disparaging remarks in the first person, specifically designed to mimic the candidate’s voice.
During testing of the line, the AI voice stated, “I’m as imaginary as my campaign promises.” When asked directly if it was intended to sound like Raman, the software responded, “Yes. That’s the point.” The bot further criticized the candidate’s platform, describing her approach as “housing policy with worse branding and better self-congratulations.”
The Raman campaign alleges that Thrive LA PAC is violating specific state laws designed to protect the electorate from digital deception in the final window of the election. The complaints cite California Elections Code Section 20012, which prohibits the malicious distribution of digitally fabricated audio depicting a candidate saying something they did not say within 30 days of an election. Additionally, the campaign points to Government Code Section 84514, which mandates clear disclosures on political advertisements that utilize AI-generated or substantially altered content.
“It’s both sad and illegal for Karen Bass’ conservative allies to be cloning Nithya’s voice, manufacturing her words, and hiding who is paying for it, all to deceive voters,” said Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the Raman campaign.
Thrive LA PAC’s executive director, Ana Dahan, defended the operation as a form of political satire protected by the First Amendment. Dahan argued that the nature of the responses makes it clear to any listener that they are not speaking to the real candidate. “I think if you call and listen to it, you’d know it’s AI. Nobody would believe it’s a real human being,” Dahan stated.
As the AI controversy unfolded, the 2026 mayoral race saw another significant development with an endorsement from an unlikely source. Rick Caruso, the businessman and developer who spent millions in a high-profile bid to defeat Karen Bass in the 2022 election, announced he will vote for her in the current cycle.
“I’m announcing today that I made a decision to vote for Mayor Karen Bass,” Caruso said during the announcement. He clarified that the move was not a tactical vote against Raman, but a proactive choice for the incumbent. “I’m voting for her because I think she’s going to do a better job than Raman going forward,” he added. Caruso also addressed concerns regarding the city’s preparedness for future major fires, stating, “I hope so,” while emphasizing that he would continue to hold city leaders, including the mayor, accountable for the region’s safety.
Mayor Bass welcomed Caruso’s support, citing their collaborative efforts following destructive wildfires in the Pacific Palisades. She credited Caruso and his nonprofit organization, Steadfast LA, with playing a pivotal role in rebuilding the community, facilitating the return of displaced families, and supporting the Palisades Recreation Center and the reopening of Palisades Village.
“Rick and I have a long history of working together to solve big problems,” Bass said in a statement, noting she is honored by the support and looks forward to working with Caruso over the next four years.
The endorsement has not been without its critics. Steve Hilton, a candidate for California Governor, described a vote for Bass as “morally unacceptable.” Hilton argued that voters should demand higher levels of accountability in government. While Hilton acknowledged he does not reside in Los Angeles and would not make a formal voting recommendation to residents, he stated he would serve as a “backstop” for those seeking better governance in the city.
As the election enters its final stretch, the combination of technological deception allegations and shifting political alliances has intensified the spotlight on the leadership contest for the nation’s second-largest city.
