Jennifer McCormick Accuses Mike Braun of an Image that Violates a New Law
Source: PHOTO: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS — A senior adviser of the Democratic candidate for governor called for her opponent to take down a misleading ad on Tuesday, accusing the campaign of using a heavily doctored image of her supporters.
The Republican candidate, Mike Braun, launched a TV spot titled “Hopelessly Liberal,” criticizing Democrat Jennifer McCormick for her tenure as superintendent of public instruction and her stance on policies like creating an office of environmental justice. Toward the end of the ad, McCormick is shown with supporters holding signs that read “No gas stoves.” The issue? That image was fabricated—it was edited from an original South Bend Tribune photo where the signs said, “Jennifer McCormick for governor.”
A new Indiana law, passed in March, requires any ad featuring digitally altered or artificially created images to include a disclaimer. While Braun’s campaign eventually aired a version with the disclaimer, it initially ran without it, and McCormick’s campaign adviser Adam Kirsch noted that some markets continued airing the uncorrected ad.
“He’s digitally manipulating images to put signs into voters’ hands that they did not hold and to represent a position Jennifer McCormick does not hold,” he said. “The fact is, he should be honest with voters because that’s what Jennifer McCormick is doing.”
The law permits candidates to file a civil lawsuit if fabricated media is used in a campaign ad without the required disclaimer, and courts are directed to prioritize these cases. When asked whether McCormick’s team is planning legal action, senior adviser Adam Kirsch simply said, “all options are on the table.”
Braun’s campaign defended the ad, arguing that McCormick’s support of the U.S. Climate Alliance—which advocates for stricter greenhouse gas emission standards for household appliances—makes the ad’s message factually sound, even if the image was altered.
“The ‘hopelessly liberal’ ads follow HEA 1133. An earlier version was mistakenly delivered to TV stations and is being replaced with the correct version. Mike Braun is the first candidate to comply with this new law, which requires a disclaimer for any alteration from an original image, even though his opponent has altered his appearance in her paid advertisements without a disclaimer,” says Senior Advisor of the Braun Campaign, Josh Kelley.
The Braun campaign pointed to a McCormick ad that criticizes Braun for his past remarks on abortion. They claim the ad manipulated audio from a December 2021 “Meet the Press” interview to twist his words, suggesting he said something he didn’t. In response, Adam Kirsch from the McCormick campaign stated that Braun’s past comments on abortion are clear enough on their own, and the ad doesn’t breach the new law on media alterations. As for gas stoves, he said, “Jennifer McCormick has never endorsed banning gas stoves and proudly used one. (Lieutenant governor candidate) Terry Goodin has one right now.”
Communications Director, U.S. Climate Alliance, Evan Westrup says, “It’s disappointing to see the Braun campaign mislead and deceive the public. The US Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 U.S. governors, has not “called for banning gas stoves” and any assertion that a new member would be required to do so is just plain false. What’s true is that our members continue to deliver more emissions and air pollution reductions, more energy savings, and more economic growth than the rest of the country.”
